Pocket Buoy from Innovative Scuba

[2airishuman]

Anyone have one? They look worthwhile, and I'm planning a trip where some sort of dive flag is required even for snorkeling, and I'll end up carrying it all day. Reviews on Amazon and other places have been mostly good with some complaints about durability.

 

[decompression]

Buy this and a 100' spool...it'll serve you well.

Whttp://www.piranhadivemfg.com/item/45-Inch-Tall-Hog-SMB--Closed-bottom-Smb-12645


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[2airishuman]

But that's an SMB, not a dive flag.

 

[uncfnp]

Never seen that one in use but looks fairly gimmicky. Not sure just how portable you need it to be but I have occassionally seen these used...

Vinyl Inflatable Float with Dive Flag DF67 AC-37-3

and this is the one I use and have seen others use frequently...

Innovative Inflatable Flag-N-Float FL-0301

and get one of these to inflate it...

https://www.divegearexpress.com/adapter-air-nozzle-bc-inflator-qd-post

 

[decompression]

Sorry, sometimes I don't have time to explain....

So, if you have a legal requirement to use a dive flag then the smb won't work. But.....
If your idea is to let boaters know you are in the water, more often than not, regardless of a dive flag or smb boaters just want to see what it is and end up too close any way.

If it's for drift diving, the smb is much smaller and can be deployed at depth. Also, travels well.

So, I'm not sure of the requirement of the snorkeling you mention but if it's just to be seen the smb has far more uses than the floating dive flag.
I've used the vinyl float mentioned above, it's cheap and packs small but after a use or two it sits in the corner of my garage.

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[Kharon]

Thanks for the idea. I've never seen one of those (Pocket Buoy) before. I'm going to get one with the bladder. Looks perfect for travel.

 

[CuzzA]

As a stand alone buoy I'm sure it would be fine, but if you do any kind of drift diving you might experience excessive drag.

You may want to look at a more hydrodynamic float like this one from @MAKO Spearguns
http://www.makospearguns.com/Economical-Float-Marker-p/mef.htm

For $21 and $7 for replacement bladders, seems like a good choice for as often as you'll use it.