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Brushing Up Your Scuba Skills: How To Deploy A Surface Marker Buoy (SMB)

Brushing Up Your Scuba Skills: How To Deploy A Surface Marker Buoy (SMB)

Written by Noreen
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Published on June 2, 2010

One of the best emergency signaling devices that can be carried by divers ad we recommend that every diver carry this, is the Inflatable signaling tube also known as s Safety sausage or a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB). With the increasing number of high-profile reports of lost divers and serious surface accidents involving boats, the importance of brushing up our Scuba safety skills has only heightened. For those who have never deployed an SMB before, but have watched a fellow diver or instructor shoot one up you may think there’s not much to it. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

The most common problems inexperienced divers face with deploying a SMB are tangled reels, divers attaching themselves to reels or divers not being able to control their buoyancy during deployment, all of which can lead to pretty serious ascent rate issues and ultimately increased risk of decompression sickness. Though often referred to as the same, SMBs and Safety Sausages do differ. Safety sausages are deployed at the surface for signaling while an SMB is deployed from depth and often features an over-pressure relief valve (OPV) as they are closed tubes.

While the features of the Surface Marker Buoy may differ according to the type you’re using, here’s a general step-by-step guide to deploying an SMB from a depth-

  • Maintain your buoyancy. It’s important to have complete control of your buoyancy before deploying an SMB. It’s good practice to inflate your buoy a few meters below your deepest safety/decompression stop (but this also depends on the amount of line your SMB has) and allow a small margin incase of buoyancy problems. One neutrally buoyant at that depth you can start preparing to deploy.
  • Take out your SMB from where you stored it (BC pockets are the best place to keep them). If the spool isn’t already attached to the SMB, you’ll have to attach it. Generally, most SMBs have a small d-ring located on the bottom of them, you need to attach the SMB lower d-ring to to a loop in the line from the spool. Once through, unreel just a little line, to make sure the loop in the line isn’t tangled round the spool .
  • Check that you’re clear. Make sure your buddy and other divers (if any) are far enough away from the line to avoid the possibility of them becoming tangled up in it. Also check to see above you that the SMB will not come into contact with another obstruction, diver, boat or take out a group of open water students!
  • Once cleared to deploy, wrap up the spool, line and any excess SMB material into one hand. Making sure that no materials like the line are wrapped around your fingers or dive gear and the reel is unlocked. Holding SMB and spool with the left hand, inflate the SMB till about half full using your octopus or alternate air source.
  • Once half full, check that the knot/line attachment to the SMB (from the spool) is in place and keeping your hands clear of the spinning reel, inflate the buoy slowly with the correct amount of air and let it rise to the surface. If the reel gets caught and starts to pull you to the surface, let go of it. Never attach yourself to the reel.
  • When the buoy hits the surface, wind back the line on the finger spool and apply some extra tension on the line in order to make the SMB stand straight up.
  • Ascend on the line using the reel. Keep the line taut throughout the ascent.

Practice deploying a SMB in controlled environment or pool if possible the first time around and then on all your dives to get proficient with the skill. It’s an important skill not to be overlooked or ignored. Dive Safe!