Sublue Vapor Jet Underwater Scooter

Sublue Vapor Jet Underwater Scooter: High-Thrust DPV for Serious Recreational and Advanced Divers

The Sublue Vapor Jet is a pump-jet diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) rated to 40 metres, built around a 21 kg thrust system and a top speed of 10 km/h.

If you are a recreational or advanced diver who wants to cover real distance underwater, carry a camera rig without fighting current, or simply extend your range on a single dive, this is the kind of tool that makes that possible.

It is not a toy or a snorkel-park rental unit. At 8.6 kg and with the power output it carries, the Vapor Jet is aimed at divers who already understand buoyancy control and have a reason to move fast underwater.

Propulsion: What 21 kg of Thrust Actually Means

Most entry-level underwater scooters produce somewhere in the range of 3 to 6 kg of thrust. The Vapor Jet's 21 kg figure puts it in a different category entirely.

That level of force means it can pull you against a moderate current, not just assist you in flat water. It also means you reach 10 km/h at full speed, which is genuinely fast underwater and requires you to be comfortable with your trim before you open it up.

The propulsion comes from Sublue's ALO 2.0 system: a 6-blade impeller paired with a 12-blade rear guide vane. The guide vane straightens the water flow coming off the impeller, which reduces turbulence and keeps the thrust consistent rather than surging. The result is smoother, more controllable acceleration rather than a sudden jerk when you engage it.

The pump-jet design also means there is no exposed propeller. That matters if you are diving around reef, kelp, or netting.

Three Speed Modes

The Vapor Jet runs at three fixed speeds:

• 6 km/h (3.7 mph) for relaxed cruising, photography, or shallow reef work where you want time to look around.
• 8 km/h (5.0 mph) for covering ground efficiently, a practical middle setting for most dives.
• 10 km/h (6.2 mph) for maximum range against current or when you need to catch up with a dive group.

Running at lower speeds also extends your battery time beyond the rated 60 minutes at full throttle, so the three modes give you real control over how long a session lasts.

Battery and Charging

The battery is a 29.6V lithium-ion pack rated at 384.8Wh, and it is detachable. That matters in practice: you can carry a spare, swap it at the surface between dives, and charge it separately from the unit itself.

Charging takes 1.5 hours to full, with a fast-charge curve that reaches 85% in the first hour. For a day of diving with two battery packs, you can realistically run back-to-back sessions without a long wait.

Battery runtime is rated at 60 minutes. That figure reflects full-speed use. Mixed-speed diving will stretch it further, though by how much depends on your actual speed profile.

One thing to note: the battery type is listed as non-universal, meaning you cannot substitute a third-party pack. Replacement batteries are available, but you are working within Sublue's ecosystem.

Display and Depth Management

The 4.3-inch LCD screen shows battery level, current speed, water temperature, depth, and direction in real time. For a DPV, having depth visible on the unit itself is genuinely useful: you are not constantly checking a separate dive computer to know where you are in the water column.

The Vapor Jet also includes a depth change speed limiter. This is a safety function that restricts how quickly the scooter can drive you deeper, reducing the risk of an uncontrolled descent. You can set a personal depth ceiling, and the unit issues alerts as you approach it. The system is rated to 40 metres, which covers the recreational limit and reaches into the range where advanced divers work.

This is not a substitute for proper dive planning or a calibrated dive computer, but it adds a useful layer of protection when you are focused on where you are going rather than how fast you are descending.

App Connectivity

The Vapor Jet connects to the SublueGo app via your smartphone. Post-dive, you can review depth, temperature, rate of depth change, and location data from your session. For divers who log their dives carefully or want to analyse a dive profile, this adds a data layer that most DPVs do not provide.

The connection is for data sharing rather than real-time in-water control, so it does not change how you operate the unit underwater.

Size and Weight

The Vapor Jet measures 54.4 x 37.9 x 28.8 cm and weighs 8.6 kg. In its thrust class, that is a compact and light package. It will still take up significant space in a gear bag or dive boat, so factor that into your travel planning.

Buoyancy is listed at 0.5 kg positive, which means it wants to float slightly when you let go. That is a deliberate safety design: if you release the unit underwater, it rises slowly rather than sinking away from you.

Who This Is For, and Who Should Look Elsewhere

The Vapor Jet suits recreational and advanced divers who want serious underwater range, the ability to work against current, or a tool for underwater photography and videography that lets them keep pace with subjects without exhausting themselves.

It is a strong fit if you dive wrecks, walls, or open water sites where covering distance matters. The 40-metre rating means it stays within recreational limits while reaching the deeper end of what most sport divers do.

It is not the right choice if you are a beginner still working on buoyancy control. At 10 km/h and 21 kg of thrust, this unit will take you places faster than you can react if your trim is not solid. The depth limiter helps, but it does not replace the foundational skills you need before adding a DPV to your kit.

It is also worth considering whether the non-universal battery and closed ecosystem fit your situation. If you are travelling to remote dive destinations where spare parts are hard to source, carrying at least one spare battery pack is a sensible precaution.