A good underwater scooter for snorkelling is not automatically a good one for diving. Scuba divers and freedivers ask more of a dive scooter: a depth rating that covers real dives, enough thrust to move a diver wearing kit, and a size that does not fight your trim underwater. Here is what to look for, with verified numbers for the Waydoo Subnado Plus and Subnado Lite so you can judge the fit honestly.
What matters in a dive scooter
Depth rating. The non-negotiable. Plenty of scooters are rated to 10 or 20 metres, which is fine on the surface but rules out most scuba profiles. For diving, look for a tested rating beyond recreational limits.
Thrust. Measured in kilograms, this decides whether the scooter pulls a diver with a tank and exposure suit or merely trails along. It also determines how well you hold position in current.
Runtime. A dive scooter that quits before your air does is a liability on the swim back. Check the runtime at the speed you will actually use, not the burst figure.
Size and weight. Underwater, a compact unit disturbs your trim less, and on the surface it is the difference between a scooter that travels with you and one that stays home.
Scuba diving: depth, thrust and free hands
The Subnado Plus is rated IP68 to 60 metres, comfortably beyond recreational scuba limits. Its 800W motor delivers up to 9.3 kg of thrust and a top speed of 1.7 m/s for a single unit, with three gears (Low, High and Super) to match effort to the moment; Super gear runs in bursts of up to 150 seconds. The 397 x 60 mm cylindrical body sits close to the diver, so it does not act like a sail in current.
Two features earn their keep on gas: a cruise mode holds your speed hands-free, keeping fingers available for gauges, lights and buoyancy, and for divers who want more pull, a second unit can be paired on a dual-engine handgrip mount, taking the top speed to 2.4 m/s. The 144Wh battery delivers up to 60 minutes of runtime and recharges over USB-C in around 1.2 hours with a PD3.1 140W charger, so a surface interval is genuinely long enough to top it up.
Freediving: weight, drag and clean lines
Freedivers care about different numbers. At 1.8 kg, the Subnado Plus is light enough to carry on a long swim out and neutral enough not to wreck a duck dive. The slim body keeps drag low on descent, and the gear system means you can save Super gear for the moments that justify it and glide on Low the rest of the time. Every metre the scooter covers is oxygen you did not spend, which is the entire point: more relaxed dives, longer bottom times, calmer ascents.
One safety note that applies to any scooter: a freediver moving faster underwater must still equalise at the same rate the depth changes. Build up speed gradually and dive with a buddy, as you would without a machine.
Subnado Plus vs Subnado Lite for divers
Waydoo Europe sells two Subnado models, and the honest answer is that they serve different divers. Verified specs, prices including VAT:
| Subnado Plus | Subnado Lite | |
|---|---|---|
| Price incl. VAT | 799 euro | 399 euro |
| Motor | 800W | 500W |
| Max thrust | 9.3 kg | 6.5 kg |
| Top speed (single unit) | 1.7 m/s | 1.4 m/s |
| Battery | 144Wh | 98Wh |
| Max runtime | 60 min | 56 min |
| Weight | 1.8 kg | 1.4 kg |
| Depth rating | IP68, 60 m | IP68, 60 m |
For scuba and serious freediving, the Plus is the right tool: the extra thrust is what moves a diver in full kit, and the stronger motor holds speed against current. The Lite shares the 60 m rating but is tuned for snorkelling, swimming and travel rather than pulling a loaded diver.
The battery difference matters at the airport, not in the water: the Lite's 98Wh pack sits under the 100Wh threshold most airlines apply to carry-on lithium batteries, while the Plus's 144Wh unit usually needs airline approval before you fly. Our guide to underwater scooters for snorkelling and travel covers those rules in detail, and how sea scooters work more generally is explained in our underwater sea scooter guide.
Which one belongs in your dive bag
- Scuba divers: the Subnado Plus, for the 60 m rating, 9.3 kg of thrust and hands-free cruise mode. Add a second unit with the dual handgrip if you want towing-level pull.
- Freedivers: the Subnado Plus for performance, or the Lite if minimum weight and airline-friendly travel matter more than thrust.
- Snorkellers and holiday swimmers: the Lite covers everything you will ask of it, at 399 euro.
Both models ship from EU stock with Waydoo Europe warranty support, so there are no customs surprises on a purchase from within Europe. If you are unsure which fits your diving, the team is happy to talk it through.
Talk to the Waydoo Europe team
Related reading: our underwater sea scooter guide and best underwater scooter for snorkelling and travel.
