Vintage Scuba: The Famous Farallon DPV - S07E15

[@sammoyers905]

Ah, a blast from the past. I always wanted a Farallon DPV. Never got one... 😕

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Super cool diving toy er sorry necessary tool for diving. A

[@rolc8272]

I have 2 of them. Converted to lithium iron batt. One had the prop missing. Had to machine and make one. Converted led light. And one i converted to a tow behind.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

They are a beautiful DPV even today.

[@johnthomas2070]

007! Peirce Alec. Alec Peirce!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Rah! Rah! Rah! Hey, John. I'm nothing special. Just old,. experienced and having fun. I'm glad you're enjoying my vids though. Take care. Alec

[@Stalicone]

I was a Cave diver in the 80’s and 90’s. (The glory days of cave diving) I used one of these to dive Eagles Nest. It performed flawlessly at 260 ffw, time after time. I also had an Aquazepp which was the fastest DPV money could buy.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Farallon's were famous for reliability and that lovely orange colour. Glad to know someone who also used these. A

[@markstengel7680]

Hi Alec, These mobility products for use in water were big deals when introduced. Enjoyed👍

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

They have always been popular but also quite rare, largely because of their cost. Alec

[@bristol8920]

while watching your video and listening an idea came of some way to convert a boats bow thruster into a cylinder of sorts, oh well I will dream on .......... thanks for posting Alec......

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

That might work. One of out club members in the '70s made a DPV using a sump pump. It basically was a jet-powered DPV. Alec

[@rickkinney2544]

Very nice. Love these videos. Great job Kevin!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks for watching Rick. Alec

[@KevinSmith-hc4pc]

Thanks Rick

[@TheVinny360]

Ha nice introduction Alec it’s definitely cool, I never knew that they had hydrogen defuser technology inside them. Always neat informative stuff on your channel keep up the awesome content 👍

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thank you Wisdom. I'm glad you enjoyed it. alec

[@mariomobiel]

Remindes me on the James Bond movies that had dive scenes in them like Thunderball, it had a big underwater battle in it

[@bluevan12]

The spy who loved me comes to mind the two divers on gun sleds which had two of these each. Plus these were used by the bad guys in Never Say never again. Look pretty cool.

[@Skunkiboi]

I got an old Aquazepp. My man worked on a new front light. Its now a 16 W LED. If the battery is so depleted that the motor won't turn anymore, the light is pretty unimpressed by it. And its still bright.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I know several collectors who converted filament bulbs to LED's for practical use. What is wrong with using one candle in the front like it originally used ha ha.

[@owenmougenot712]

hi Alec,I recall one of the sea hunt episodes where Mike used the porta-sub DPV and another where he used a much larger and faster unit I don't recall if it was Farallon type?You mentioned that the 24 volt versions had less line losses than the 12 volt, in theory this is true for long hydro lines but really is not even measurable for the length of wire used in these units. I do think that the weight to power rating on higher voltage motors is better and the gauge of wire needed and brush life is better. How do you control buoyancy on these? Take care Owen m

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Mike Nelson used the Porta-Sub in several episodes. He used a different DPV in one show only. I don't know what make it was. Using 24 volts in this type of machine doesn't offer an advantage because of less line loss but because of less heat. 24-volt motors have fewer windings so less heat. These machines were invariably designed to be neutral or close to it. You could change the buoyancy by simply putting a 2-3 pound weight in it. Sometimes we wrapped a band of neoprene around the body to give it more buoyancy. Alec

[@eddieguyvh4765]

Nice piece of equipment! I wonder how much that DPV technology has evolved since then. Not that much, I guess: It's for a very special purpose, right? Maybe an idea for a next video: pros and cons of a DPV. Take care!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

DPVs haven't changed much at all. I have a Porta-Sub from the late '50sw as was used on Sea Hunt and it is essentially the same as the Farallon. New materials, better motors, more safety features and better seals but otherwise, the same machine. Alec

[@teddybarba]

They are all plastic and don't last very long. Mark III is bad ass with 22 amp hour batteries it will last for three or four hours at least. Solid aluminum nearly indestructible it's a fucking beast. Only drawback is a little loud underwater but it really doesn't bother the fish. I have five of them.

[@davidatticus5179]

Thanks, Alec, for showing off the nicest looking Farallon I've seen, wish mine looked so good, in and out. I've 'inherited' a blue one (think it also was a factory color option) that could use some restoration but hopefully will cruise again someday. If you made the video on my earlier request.....thank you. If not, well, I guess I just lucked out! I Know you're always open to suggestions for new topics so I will try to think of some, but you've covered so much, so well, that it will be a challenge to find a neglected topic, or one that could use more in-depth (hahaha) analysis. If I find my way north from sunny San Diego I hope to stop in at your old shop and maybe catch you for a hello and a handshake. You are doing great work, thank you sir. 🌊🐠🐠🐠🐠

[@davidatticus5179]

Whoops, I almost forgot..... Kudos to you too, Kevin, for the great camera work and for putting up with Alec's 'abuse', LOL😅

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Hey! I treat Kevin better than I do my own kids! Alec

[@davidatticus5179]

Okay, Mr. Peirce, settle down now, I know good natured ribbing when I see it, haha. As for your kids, I don't know, but I watched a vid with the grandkids, and you are 'softie', so I bet your kids did just fine, though they probably roll their eyes when, like my kids do when I trot out my own 'collectibles' for a session of "show and tell" (do they do that in Canadian primary schools too? Probably), you get overly enthusiastic over the lunacy of 'Shark Darts', and other half-baked eclectic dive gear. By the way, MY dart is loaded and ready, just waiting for a Great White with a sense of humour.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I know what you mean. I see the glances between each other when I start a sentence with "When I was a kid ..." Take care. Alec

[@jamescrawford5625]

Alec is there anyone out there restoring the Farallon Mk8 you know of?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Not as a business. They are not all that difficult to service. Service manuals are fairly easy to get. Alec

[@jamescrawford5625]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter My problem is sourcing the aft circuit boards or their repair. Any ideas?

[@fremountstsongsrich2453]

Hi Alec I love this vid thank you! How can I contact you, I'm looking for a piece of diving gear that as of 2017 or 2018 is not being made anymore by Scubapro Sincerely Ken Rich

[@marthathomas4636]

I have MK ll for sale. It was used by my husband very few times. If you are interesting send me a mess. To [e-mail]

[@marineexplorationgroup2397]

Need a pinion gear ( metal ) and the nylon spur gear .

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Suggest posting a request on www.scubaboard.com and on the many Facebook vintage scuba groups. Someone may know how you can get these parts or make them. Good luck. A.

[@scubaclient355]

I believe a tech dive was concussed and drowned by an exploding DPV. A spark or switch overload (no breaker) may have ignited battery fumes. Gel batteries may be the choice?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Back when the Farallon's came out, these where the Tesla Model X's of their day. New, innovative, and super cool but sill used lead/acid batteries because that's all there was back in the stone age.