Because regular swimming is for mere mortals. This tiny scooter pulls you through the water like a dolphin, and it fits in your carry on.
Money tierPayday splurge
Want Meter4/5
Best forSnorkelers and travelers
Heads upFull speed battery life is short
So what does it actually do?
The Waydoo Subnado is a little underwater propulsion motor about the size of a water bottle. You strap it to your arm, hold a handle, or clip it to a paddle board, press the thumb button and it pulls you along.
The big thing about it is size. Most sea scooters are big and heavy enough that you’d never bring them on a trip. This one weighs about 3 pounds and its battery is airline approved, so it can actually come on vacation with you.
The numbers that actually matter
- 3 lbsSeriously light and only about 15 inches long. It fits in a backpack.
- 14.33 lbs thrustEnough to tow an adult along at a relaxed snorkel pace. In DIVEIN’s pool test it hit about 2.9 mph on one unit.
- 197 ftIt’s rated for 60 meters deep, so it works for scuba too, not just the surface.
- 1.2 hour chargeFast charging over USB C, and it can charge your phone as a power bank.
The catch
Waydoo claims up to 56 minutes on cruise mode, but that’s at a gentle speed. When DIVEIN ran it flat out, it lasted about 12 minutes at full speed before slowing down. The battery isn’t swappable either, so when it’s done, you’re done.
Lots of people buy two and run them together for more speed, but then you’re paying double and controlling two separate units.
Is it worth the money?
For snorkeling and casual dives on vacation, it’s one of the most fun things you can bring. The fact that it’s light enough to actually pack is the whole selling point, and it delivers on that.
If you’re a serious diver who wants long range and swappable batteries, this isn’t your scooter.
Other options worth a look
Cheaper
Waydoo Subnado Lite
Same motor, battery and specs, with fewer accessories in the box. The easy way to save a bit.
Different pick
LEFEET S1 Pro
Heavier at about 5.5 lbs, but it has a swappable battery so you can carry spares.
Splurge
Waydoo Subnado Plus
Bigger motor, bigger battery and more speed. Just know it needs airline pre approval to fly.
Grab it if
You snorkel or dive on trips and want something fun that actually fits in your luggage.
Skip it if
You want long dives at full speed. The battery just won’t keep up.
Our verdict 4/5
A tiny, ridiculous, genuinely fun gadget. It won’t replace a real dive scooter, but it’ll make every snorkel trip a lot more exciting.
