GEAR TESTS: PEGASUS THRUSTER

MARISSA WIGANOWSKE

After an epic year and short, but toasty travels from Miami to Little Cayman via a Twin Otter, it's fantastic to be back again as a sponsor of The Digital Shootout. Kudos to Cayman Airways for being on point, getting the copious amounts of staff and guest gear to the island on time, as everyone surely shattered the baggage restrictions. Even with doubling the number of Pegasus Thrusters and extra batteries brought from the previous year, the units remained easy travel companions with the design's small size and weight. Pegasus Thrusters demo signups for the week were 90% booked before 24 hours had even elapsed once the signups began. The hands free, tank mounted, diver propulsion vehicles weren't looking to be dry again until they returned back to our facility stateside.

With staff rotating boats daily, the morning walk down the dock carrying Pegasus Thrusters brought on a look of suspense and whispers from divers. Could there be the possibility of an extra unit not in use they could take with them, I mean would you want to wait to fly underwater? With camera rigs and DPVs out numbering divers from the start, the crew quickly dialed in the Pegasus Thrusters easy setup. Tank strap and bracket base already mounted to the tank, the only thing left to do was clip the Pegasus Thruster on and insert the locking pin as they made final adjustments on the back of the boat. Weighing only 13 lbs. out of the water and -5 lbs. in water, users were asking if we were sure it was on. Having 5 lbs. of weight on the tank acts as trim rather than in your weight integrated pouches or belt, a little comfier.

Reminded to be one with their BCD, participants were encouraged to snugly wear their BCDs, for when the Pegasus Thruster is underway your tank goes. It's a bonus to be part of the equation. This allows for very natural maneuvering as steering and control is all in your shoulders, fins simply act as rudders. With no need to fin, clean water enters and exits the prop for maximum thrust. Assisting you to cover more of the dive site, macro shooters buzzed towards the shallows while those shooting wide angle were able to scout for various compositions. When actually taking the photos the Pegasus Thruster was never an issue, it's on their back and out of the frame. Being streamlined, it goes unnoticed when you do want to fin or make minor adjustments.

Video shooters on the rise! Even the Epic and Gates combo was moving smoothly through the water with the assistance of a Pegasus Thruster. Sound is minimal, meaning no annoyed dive buddy or spooked marine life. The unit keeps you at pace, if not ahead, as your subject moves through the water, giving you another angle to shoot footage that may not be achieved solely by finning. Filling memory cards didn't stop there, as staff dabbled with mounting GoPros to the Pegasus Thruster, showcasing new points of view. Starring in your own dive video…

Surface conditions being a bit sloppy made for a sensitive subject to the boats unable to make it over to Cayman Brac where the wreck of the MV Keith Tibbetts resides. The DPVs sustained a comfy boat ride as the prop sits snug in a tank holder, out of the way, protected from getting knocked around. Averaging a speed of 165 to 200 feet per minute, Pegasus Thrusters assisted in getting some impressive wide angle wreck shots. Pegasus divers had descended, making their way to bow before others were even blowing bubbles. Lowering both air consumption and fatigue levels while maximizing your dive time ensured there was full coverage of the Tibbetts.

So if you're already a Pegasus Thruster fan and the addiction has set in, what's next? Doubles of course! Using a switch the tethers powering two units together on a tank, make sure your mask is tight and your regulator is in. Some lowered the speed by picking up a few hitchhikers on the dive. If a battery was drained, we were able to swap it out for a fully charged one at depth. Being marine sealed and underwater pluggable is means for no worries!

Needless to say another brilliant Shootout has gone by too fast. Proving both fun and an affective tool for everyone, Pegasus Thruster will see y'all in Bonaire next year… there's more scooter wars to be had! A massive thank you to the rockstar staff of Little Cayman Beach Resort and Reef Divers, we shall see you very soon.