Sublue Navbow Underwater Scooter with Dual Motors

sublue Navbow: Underwater Scooter with Dual Motors and Three Speed Modes

The sublue Navbow is a handheld underwater scooter (also called a diver propulsion vehicle, or DPV) designed for adults who want to cover more ground underwater without relying solely on fin kicks.

It suits a wide range of water activities: pool sessions, snorkeling, and recreational scuba diving down to 40 metres (131 feet).

If you are a recreational diver, a snorkeler, or simply someone who wants to explore more of a reef or a shipwreck without exhausting yourself, the Navbow is built for that kind of use. It is not a technical diving tool and is not intended for deep or decompression diving.

Speed and Power

The Navbow runs on dual motors producing a combined thrust of 15 kgf (roughly 31 lbf). That is enough pull to move an adult through the water at a meaningful pace, and sublue notes it can tow more than one person at the same time.

Three speed modes let you match your pace to the situation:

• FREE (1 m/s): the gentlest setting, good for relaxed exploration or keeping pace with slower swimmers.
• SPORT (1.5 m/s): a mid-range pace suited to open-water snorkeling or covering moderate distances on a dive.
• TURBO (2 m/s): the fastest setting, useful for moving quickly across open water, though it drains the battery fastest.

Switching between modes is straightforward, so you can dial back when you want to slow down and look at something, then accelerate again when you move on.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life on a DPV is one of the first things worth understanding, because the numbers can look different depending on how you read them.

The Navbow carries a 159 Wh removable battery. Here is what the runtime actually looks like in practice:

The 60-minute figure assumes you are not running it flat-out the whole time, which is realistic for most snorkeling or recreational diving sessions where you stop frequently to look around.

The battery is removable, so if you are planning a longer day on the water, you can carry a spare and swap it between dives. A full charge takes 3.5 hours.

Knowing When You Are Running Low

Running out of power mid-dive without warning is the one scenario you want to avoid. The Navbow handles this with a two-stage alert system built into the unit itself.

At 30% battery remaining, the battery icon on the OLED display flashes and the unit sends three vibration pulses through the handle. You feel it even in cold water with gloves on.

At 20% remaining, the icon flashes faster and six vibration pulses fire. At that point you have a clear prompt to head back toward the boat or shore.

The OLED Display

The screen shows battery level, current speed mode, operating mode, wireless connection status, and running time. You get a real-time read on what the unit is doing without having to guess. The display is readable underwater, which matters more than it might sound when you are moving at speed and want a quick glance rather than a long look.

Depth Rating and Build

The Navbow is rated to 40 metres (131 feet), which comfortably covers the full recreational diving depth range. The housing is built from carbon fibre, which keeps the weight down relative to what the unit delivers in thrust.

The unit weighs just under 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs) in your hands, which is meaningful when you are carrying it from the car to the dock. Underwater, the slight positive buoyancy works in your favour: if you let go, it floats up rather than sinking. That is a practical safety detail, not a marketing point. A negatively buoyant scooter dropped at depth is a real loss.

One-Handed Use and the DTC Kit

The included DTC kit (a D-ring buckle and tow cord) lets you attach the Navbow to your wrist or BCD so you can operate it with one hand. Your free hand stays available for equalizing your ears as you descend, adjusting your camera, or signaling your buddy.

This is worth noting if you plan to shoot video or stills while moving. The universal action camera mount on the unit accepts almost any action camera on the market, so you can record your run without holding a separate rig.

After the Dive

Saltwater left inside a motor housing causes corrosion over time. The Navbow includes a self-cleaning function that flushes residual seawater from the internal components after use. Running this after a salt-water session is the kind of maintenance habit that extends the life of any motorized dive accessory significantly.

What Comes in the Box

• Navbow unit
• 159 Wh rechargeable battery
• Standard charger
• One-hand strap
• Counterweight support and column
• D-ring buckle
• Anti-lost lanyard
• Instructions

Who This Is Not For

If you are a technical diver planning extended deep dives or cave diving where runtime and reliability are life-support concerns, the Navbow is not in that category. It is a recreational and sport-use scooter.

Similarly, if you are a younger swimmer or a child, the suggested users are adults. The weight and thrust make it better suited to someone with the strength and water confidence to manage it safely.

For a recreational diver, a snorkeler, or anyone who wants to genuinely move through the water rather than drift, the Navbow is a capable, well-specified machine with honest battery disclosures and practical safety features built in.