The Scuba S1 powers on and spins in place or drifts in circles instead of following a cleaning path, with no way to change the pattern from the app. This is a navigation or drive fault, not a charging or skimming problem.
If the Scuba S1 spins in circles or never settles into a path, one drive side is underperforming or the navigation input is missing. First clear hair and debris from the wheels and check that both wheels turn freely by hand — a jammed or dragging wheel makes the robot circle. Then fully recharge and reset the controller. If it still spins, one drive motor or the path-planning controller needs warranty service.
Why the S1 Spins or Drifts
A pool robot that spins or circles instead of following a path is usually dealing with one of two issues: an uneven drive, where one wheel turns slower than the other (from a partial jam, a dragging brush, or a weakening motor), or a navigation fault, where the controller isn’t receiving or acting on its path-planning input. Because the unit powers on and the motors run, the battery is fine — the fault is in the drive balance or the navigation.
Clear the Drive and Reset Navigation
1. Remove the S1 from the water and dry it. 2. Inspect both wheels and the brush roller for hair, string, or leaves, and clear anything wrapped around either drive. 3. Spin each wheel by hand — both should turn with the same light resistance. 4. Fully recharge, then hold the power button for 10 seconds to reset the controller and its path planning. 5. Return it to the pool and watch whether it now tracks a path. If it does, a partial jam or a transient navigation lock was the cause.
Spinning vs Getting Stuck
A unit that moves but circles is different from one that stops at walls or on obstacles — see our gets stuck guide. A unit that drives normally but doesn’t pick up debris is also separate — see our not cleaning diagnosis. This page covers a unit that spins in place or drifts in circles without a coherent path.
Still Not Working? Contact Support
If clean wheels, a recharge and a reset don’t stop the spinning, one drive motor or the navigation controller has failed. Submit a warranty ticket with your serial number and a short video showing the unit circling. Note whether it always circles in the same direction — that tells support which drive side is weak. This is not something a software reset can fix.
