Are you ready for your PADI PADI Surface Marker Buoy Distinctive Speciality Diver Course?

Whether you are diving from a boat or from the shore, it’s always good for people to know where you are.

This could be a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB), or a Delayed Surface Maker Buoy (DSMB). Both are essential items of equipment that all divers should have and know how to deploy.

Outline of the PADI Surface Marker Buoy Course: 

You will start off with a classroom session to understand how a Surface Maker Buoy is used and what advantages the different types have.

Starting off with the Surface Make Buoy, which is inflated before you descend on your dive, to the Delayed Surface Maker Buoy which is inflated once you reach the bottom, or are about to start your ascent.

There are many different types of Surface Maker Buoy, delayed and deployed, and you will spend time looking at these, discussing the pros and cons of each one.

Finally, you will look at the reels that we use with the Surface Maker Buoys, again there are many different types, and you will have hands-on experience with all the equipment.

Confined Water Pool Sessions:

Although there is no mandatory pool session on this course, we will spend time using Surface Maker Buoys and reels in the pool.

You will be given time to practise using the equipment in the pool before going to Open Water, including deploying a Delayed Surface Maker Buoy, using both hand reels and finger reels, and completing a Safety Stop.

Open Water Dives:

During your two training dives, you will repeat the skills mastered in the pool.

You will have a full briefing before each dive, revisiting which skills you have to complete on that dive. These will include: deploying a Surface Maker Buoy from a stationary position; swimming with the buoy being towed by you; ascending and then completing a safety stop.

On the second dive, you will deploy the Surface Maker Buoy whilst in mid-water and carry on swimming, then ascend and complete your safety stop.

You will use different reels and Surface Maker Buoys over the two dives and be given the opportunity to deploy numerous times.

What’s included in your course:

• There is no PADI crew-pack for this course

• All equipment is supplied for the course

• PADI Certification Card.

What’s not included in your course:

• Travel to and from training and dive location: this is your responsibility

• Any fees into dive site

Next Steps

Contact ORCA Scuba Diving Academy by Telephone, Email or Social Media or drop into the dive centre.