Surface marker buoy

Surface marker buoy (often abbreviated as SMB) is a buoy used by scuba divers to mark their location to their surface support team while they are underwater. SMBs are typically brightly colored to be easily visible from a distance. They are an essential piece of diving equipment for safety and navigation purposes.

Usage

Surface marker buoys are used in various ways depending on the type of diving and the specific situation. They can be used to mark the diver's location during a decompression stop, to signal the boat for pickup, or to warn boat traffic of divers in the water. In some cases, they may also be used to carry a line for underwater navigation.

Types

There are two main types of surface marker buoys: the delayed (or deployable) SMB and the permanent (or static) SMB.

• Delayed SMB: This type of buoy is inflated at depth and then sent to the surface. It is typically used to mark the diver's location during a decompression stop.

• Permanent SMB: This type of buoy is deployed at the surface before the dive and remains there throughout the dive. It is typically used in drift diving where the boat follows the buoy.

Construction and Design

Surface marker buoys are typically made of durable, brightly colored material to withstand the underwater environment and be easily visible from a distance. They are usually cylindrical in shape and can be inflated either orally or with a low-pressure inflator hose from a diving cylinder. Some SMBs have a weighted bottom to keep them upright in the water, and others have a flag or light on top for increased visibility.

Safety Considerations

The use of a surface marker buoy is an important safety measure in scuba diving. It helps to alert boat traffic to the presence of divers and allows the surface support team to keep track of the divers' location. However, improper use of an SMB can lead to entanglement or rapid ascent, both of which can be dangerous. Therefore, divers should receive proper training in SMB use.

See Also

• Diving signal
• Dive flag
• Diving safety

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  Friendly Coast Guard sailors return a lost dive-float to the responsible diver who reported its loss
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  Deployed surface marker buoy