Buoy (diving)

Marker buoy can have both constant buoyancy and adjustable. The remaining buoys are only with adjustable buoyancy (due to changes in the volume of air in the float).

There are three types of buoy colors - red, yellow and camouflage. Red buoys are used to inform about the normal situation, normal decompression, yellow to alert about an emergency under water and request help, camouflage in spearfishing to mount additional and spare equipment, caught prey and rest on it.

In general, a buoy consists of the following parts:

• float
• cord or tench - with one end attached to the float, the diver holds the other end in his hand or attached to it. It can reach a length of thirty or more meters.
• reel - designed for more convenient regulation of the length of the lace.
• bag with carabiners for attaching to equipment. There are buoys in which the handbag, in order to avoid loss, is attached to the float.

The task of the marker buoy, as the name implies, is to indicate on the surface the location of the swimmer. All watercraft are required to stay away from the buoy. Unfortunately, the opposite situation is observed in Russian resorts: when a float is seen on the surface, vacationers on jet skis come to it, thus presenting a serious danger to the diver.

Marker buoys can be made of foam or polyurethane and even from improvised materials - plastic bottles.

There is a red and white flag on the marker buoy   .

Spearfishing buoy, in fact, is a marker buoy, but also capable of carrying small loads (guns, catch).

Buoys of this class are designed for:

• facilitating the maintenance of a given depth during a decompression stop ;
• Designations on the surface of a swimmer’s location

Transport buoys (lift-bag, parachute) are used to lift heavy objects from the depths.

• All operations with the buoy should be carried out with the flow and in the free overhead space.
• Before starting the buoy, open the coil.
• Initial blowing of the buoy should be carried out with air from Octopus or a pony balloon.
• When starting a buoy, it is forbidden to attach a tench or reel to the elements of equipment. Otherwise, entanglement in the line and uncontrolled release to the surface can occur, which can lead to the death of the diver.
• When sailing with a buoy, it is forbidden to attach a line or reel to the equipment elements, since there is a possibility that the line will catch on a passing vessel, boat or jet ski and you will be pulled by it.