Ugh...I read Revan's "beyond drag" stuff. As a former competitive swimmer, I get that streamlining is important, and I know that freedivers with monofins can move a LOT faster than a loaded tech diver on a scooter.
But...what I really don't get is his continued push for his way of diving. He tries to make the case that a diver NEEDS to be able to move at 2 knots to be able to function effectively as a diver in the open water, but I call BS on that. Never has a lack of speed been my problem in an open water dive. As a recreational diver, the best thing I ever learned to do was slow down - not speed up. You see more of everything going slow. As such, I see no real advantage in the uber streamlining of my gear for recreational diving - as it doesn't provide enough drag to make any practical impairment to the diving I am doing. The only practical use I can think of for what he is pushing is for speardiving. Covering more ground quickly and quietly is very good in that application. But if I'm looking at sealife and relaxing? No thanks.
As a tec diver and as a rebreather diver, I absolutely understand the importance of a scooter, and find the concept of streamlining that kit down to a level that a scooter is not necessary downright laughable. Please tell me how I can achieve scooter speeds at a low SAC rate or low CO2 generation rate by streamlining my drysuit and the multitude of tanks and safety equipment I'm carrying by using a monofin - all while allowing me the ability to back up and to helicopter turn - so I don't get myself into trouble while cave diving. I won't hold my breath waiting for his answer.
Now as far as the topic of this thread? The OP stated that he wanted a scooter for now, that he would like to continue to use once he starts diving tec in the future. In that case, I don't think any of the initial 3 scooters he mentioned are worth buying, since none of them are good as tec scooters. Depending on the time until he moves to tec, maybe it would be worth getting a scooter for open water fun. I have been considering the aquaprop for just that purpose. But if he is planning on making the jump sooner rather than later, it might be worth saving more money and buying a scooter that will be usable in a tec role. The suex 14, gavins, cudas, pirhanas, etc, are all viable options.
If you're worried about the cost of a scooter, I promise, there is more to hurt you financially in tec diving than the scooter purchase. Between the extra tanks, regs, and cost of training, the scooter is just another line item on the budget. But here's more bad news...once you get to a point with your tec diving that you NEED a scooter, you actually need 2. Because if one fails, you will need another way to get home from whatever spot you managed to drag yourself to.
So my suggestion - buy once, cry once, but don't but something that won't fulfill the purpose of a tec scooter if you already know you are heading in a tec direction. That way, you will have a functional and effective scooter available immediately for some fun and light use at the start of your tec career, and you will already have your backup scooter when you need to get something that has more oomph down the road. Of course - going fast at the beginning of your tec career isn't always a great idea either if you value your safety!
