Course Outcomes


GUE’s Diver Propulsion Vehicle Level 1 course is designed to introduce divers to the skills and knowledge required to safely use underwater propulsion vehicles in open water. Other course outcomes include: knowledge of the basic principles of DPV diving, dive planning, teamwork while using a DPV, environment and conservation awareness, stress management, navigation, standard and emergency procedures, DPV maintenance and troubleshooting, and the potential hazards of diving with a DPV.




Applicants for a DPV 1 course must:


  2. Be physically and mentally fit.
  4. Be a nonsmoker.
  6. Be a minimum of sixteen years of age.
  7. Have passed GUE Recreational Level 1 Diver or GUE Fundamentals at the “Recreational” level.
  8. Have a minimum of 75-five logged dives beyond either GUE Recreational Diver Level 1 or open water certification.


Course Content




DPV 1 Specific Training Standards


  2. Maximum depth of 100 feet/30 meters or the limit of the student’s certification, whichever is shallower.
  3. No overhead environment diving.
  4. Minimum starting visibility of 20 feet/6 meters.


Training Materials





Academic Topics


  2. Equipment considerations
  3. DPV components
  4. DPV maintenance
  5. Surface marker buoys and spools (for deco platforms)
  6. Dive planning
  7. Operational planning
  8. Support
  9. Teams
  10. Team planning
  11. Procedures
  12. Gas planning
  13. Gas matching
  14. Considerations for managing and stowing a DPV while not in use


Land Drills


  1. Proper position while using a DPV
  2. Runaway DPV
  3. Dive team order and protocols
  4. Basic navigation skills
  5. Pre-dive drills


Required Dive Skills and Drills


  3. Demonstrate a safe and responsible demeanor throughout all training.
  4. Demonstrate proficiency in underwater communication.
  5. Demonstrate basic proficiency managing a GUE equipment configuration.
  6. Demonstrate safe ascent and descent procedures.
  10. Demonstrate proficiency adjusting buoyancy while using a DPV.
  11. Demonstrate effective use of compass and navigation.
  12. Demonstrate ability to match speeds with team members.
  13. Demonstrate ability to tow a diver with a non-functional DPV.
  14. Demonstrate control while dealing with a runaway DPV.
  15. Demonstrate proper procedures for gas-sharing and regulator switching as appropriate.
  16. Demonstrate proficiency in surface marker buoy deployment.
  17. Demonstrate familiarity with required course equipment.
  18. Demonstrate proficiency in gas-sharing scenarios with a gas-sharing event.
  19. Demonstrate cylinder valve management appropriate to the configuration being used.
  20. Demonstrate proficiency with effective decompression techniques, including depth and time management.


Equipment Requirements


GUE base configuration as outlined in Appendix A, plus:


  1. Approved DPV





Diver Propulsion Vehicle Level 1

DIR México/ Pto. Aventuras

Quintana Roo, México 77733

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