Diving Surface Tools
Part of the safety measures in Scuba Diving is to make sure that people at the water surface know that there are divers in a particular site. There are tools that can be used to mark where the diver is during Drift Diving or when divers are on a Decompression Stop. Likewise, a sort of sign is needed to enable the boat cover to keep track of the whereabouts of the divers. These and a lot more are the purposes of important pieces of Diving Gear and Equipment called Surface Tools.
In this section, know the functions of Surface Tools such as Surface Marker Buoys, Decompression Buoys, Diving Shots, Dive Flags, Marker Dyes, and Power Whistles.
Surface Marker Buoys or SMBs
A buoy is a floating device which serves many purposes. In Scuba Diving, a Surface Marker Buoy is a float with a strong thin line wound around a reel and is attached to the Diver. It is inflated prior to the dive. This buoy makes it possible for the surface boat cover to know where the Divers are. Likewise, jolting it sharply is a way of communication between boat crew and Divers underwater. Surface Marker Buoys are usually used in Drift Diving and Night Diving. They are also used when diving in poor visibility and strong currents.
It is ideal to use just one Surface Marker Buoy at a time since Divers can get entangled to lines if a number of SMBs are used.
Decompression Buoy
This is sometimes called a delayed Surface Marker Buoy. This is inflated underwater to mark the Diver's position while at a Decompression Stop, making it easier for the boat cover to locate the Diver. A line connects the Decompression Buoy at the surface and the Diver underwater.
As a Safety measure, each Diver must carry a Decompression Buoy, in case they got separated.
Diving Shots
A Diving Shot marks the dive site and ensures the safety of the Divers' ascent and descent. It is composed of a weight, buoy, and line. The line has many uses - for underwater navigation, Buoyancy, and in doing Decompression stops in strong currents. Diving Shots are commonly used when diving under conditions of low visibility.
Dive Flags
In Diving, the accepted Dive Flag is the 'A' flag of the maritime International Code of Signals. The Dive Flag must be displayed in a conspicuous spot. It must be highly visible and not obstructed from view of other vessels. When a boat displays a Dive Flag, it informs other boats that there are Divers underwater and that they should reduce speed or steer away from the site.
Dye Markers
Bright - colored water dyes (orange, for instance) are used to increase the visibility of Divers from the air. Dye Markers which color a large part of the surface are easily seen by search helicopters.
Whistles / Power Whistles
A Power Whistle is a compressed air whistle which is an effective way of getting the attention of the surface boat cover. Just be careful in using a Power Whistle. It produces an ear-damaging loud sound so hold it away from you and the other Divers.
Without these Surface Tools, the surface boat will find it hard to keep track of the Diver's whereabouts. As for the Divers, just imagine the thought of ascending and reaching the surface and the boat cover is far from you, or worse, nowhere to be seen.
Make sure you know the uses of the different Surface Tools in Diving. Use these paraphernalia when necessary. Even if you are not a Diver, it will be helpful if you know the Surface Tools and signals used in Scuba Diving.
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