I think that before people start to bash the specialty course offering one needs to know the outline, requirements and more detailed description of the course including the skills the student needs to gain and master in this course.
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As you start to venture further afield with your diving, you will quickly learn the importance of alerting people on the surface to your position underwater. A delayed Surface Marker Buoy (dSMB or SMB) is an essential piece of equipment for any diver – Whether you need to summon the boat to pick you up after a dive, find a missing buddy, ascend without a fixed reference line, warn off boat traffic or even request extra cylinders.I think that before people start to bash the specialty course offering one needs to know the outline, requirements and more detailed description of the course including the skills the student needs to gain and master in this course.
OW was after that as well. Like i said, it was demo'ed frequently for me in my OW, but never demonstrated by me.
As you start to venture further afield with your diving, you will quickly learn the importance of alerting people on the surface to your position underwater. A delayed Surface Marker Buoy (dSMB or SMB) is an essential piece of equipment for any diver – Whether you need to summon the boat to pick you up after a dive, find a missing buddy, ascend without a fixed reference line, warn off boat traffic or even request extra cylinders.
This course will teach you how to easily, safely and reliably deploy a dSMB; giving you the peace of mind that you are comfortable using this essential (though initially daunting) piece of equipment whenever you may need to.
What do I need to start?
What will I do?
- PADI Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another organization)
- Minimum age: 12 years old
Upon completing the PADI Surface Marker Buoy Speciality, you should be able to understand:
How long will it take?
- The various uses of a SMB or dSMB
- The differences between each type and colour of marker buoy
- The advantages and disadvantages of various types of reels
- Deployment of a dSMB from underwater
- Considerations of deployment location based on hazards and current conditions
- Preparation of equipment before and after deployment
What will I need?
- Knowledge development supported by your instructor
- Minimum Open Water Training: two dives over one day
You will need to provide your own dSMB and reel - or you can rent from Abyss
How much does it cost?
£120
Incl materials?
N/A
Incl Gear Hire?
Yes
Where can I go from here?
Knowing how to use an SMB is especially useful for Boat and Drift dives, why not look into their respective speciality courses to safely introduce you to each? It also comes in very handy for the majority of our trips and holidays, which are largely sea or boat dives, contact the shop to find out where we are going next.
As a PADI Specialty and part of the adventures in diving programme, this course will count towards your Master Scuba Diver rating. Let other divers know where you are with the PADI SMB Diver Speciality.
I think it depends how it is taught. I have 5 or 6 different SMBs that are of different design, size, and have different inflation methods (to include one from AP with the mini cylinder). I have different spools and reels that the student gets to use. Students are shown how to prepare spools and reels, rig the DSMB depending on design, methods to carry the DSMB based on size and style, which SMB is appropriate for what conditions, etc.
So it can be a ******** specialty or one that brings some value, education and exposure to various DSMB designs and how to deploy them. For me...I find it a much better Adventure Dive and Knowledge Development segment for AOW than some of the other choices.
If others offer that level of experience and DSMB design exposure during OW...excellent...I don't. In OW I cover inflation of an open bottom SMB at the surface...and yes it needs to be taught as the skill is not automatic and obvious to all. It takes some one try, others more than that with somebody observing and correcting the basic mistakes that are commonly made.
A good DSMB class takes an investment in different DSMBs, spools, and reels and an investment in my time to teach it well. So yes, I charge for that one night of knowledge development and the two dives where the student sends multiple SMBs of various size and design to the surface, practices buoyancy, depth awareness and task loading, etc.