A surface marker buoy, or SMB is an essential piece of kit for a diver, especially one who dives regularly from boats. As with any skill, using one should be regularly practiced, and as with all things diving, it isn’t as easy to deploy from 30 meters with gloves on as you think it’s going to be!
If you’re carrying an SMB, always agree with your buddy on the procedure for deploying it prior to the dive and as part of the briefing. You should be adept at using the buoy yourself, but it is always easier with someone else’s help. If you’re intending to make it a two person job, agree clearly on the surface who is doing what.
The buoy should be clipped securely onto your jacket and with the line in the lock position prior to any dive. Don’t deploy it until you are ready to begin your ascent and / or deco stops. It’s hard to swim with a buoy on the surface, especially if there is a current. Here’s the process for getting a buoy up:
1/ Unclip the reel from your jacket – never inflate a buoy that is clipped on, in case the line snags and it takes you up as well.
2/ Take the buoy from the pouch and unroll it.
3/ Ensure the line is set to “Free” and check by pulling on it.
4/ Put your octopus or line inflator into the opening.
5/ Check everyone around you is well clear and aware of what you are doing, and grip the reel handle firmly.
6/ Give a steady blast of air into the buoy and let the line slip through your fingers as it heads for the surface – it will increase speed on the way up.
7/ Once you’re sure the buoy is on the surface, lock the reel and clip it to your jacket once again, but this time in a position where you can operate the reel.
8/ As you ascend slowly reel in to take up the slack.
9/ Many divers pre mark at 5 or 3 meters, so they know where to carry out a safety stop. If you are stopping on a buoy, don’t use the buoy for buoyancy, control it with your jacket and hold the line lightly.
10/ On the final part of the ascent remember the usual drills to ensure there is no boat traffic around and reel in the last of the line.
11/ Hand the buoy over to the boat crew before doing anything else, this will free your hands up.
Using an SMB may well save your life, so as I said at the beginning, it’s a skill you should practice from time to time. If you don’t already have a buoy you can find them for mail order on Simply Scuba’s site, just click Reels and Buoys.
Also have a look at:
Post new comment