Surface Marker Buoys (SMBs) in Komodo: Essential Safety Equipment
A Surface Marker Buoy — commonly called an SMB, safety sausage, or DSMB (Delayed Surface Marker Buoy) — is an inflatable tube that you deploy from underwater to mark your position on the surface. In Komodo, carrying and knowing how to deploy an SMB is mandatory at virtually every dive site.
Why SMBs Are Mandatory in Komodo
- Live boat pickups: Most Komodo dives are drift dives where the boat follows your group rather than anchoring. Your SMB tells the captain exactly where to find you.
- Surface current separation: If you surface away from your group, your SMB makes you visible from a distance in open ocean.
- Group identification: In areas with multiple dive boats, your SMB identifies your group to your specific boat.
- Emergency signalling: If you are swept away or separated, your SMB is your primary tool for being found.
Types of SMBs
| Type | Description | Recommendation for Komodo |
|---|
| Open-ended (standard) | Tube open at the bottom, inflated by exhaling into it or using your alternate air source | Adequate but can lose air at the surface |
| Closed-circuit (sealed) | Sealed tube with a dump valve, inflated by regulator or oral inflation | Preferred — stays inflated in choppy conditions |
| Colour | Orange/red (standard, "I am here") or yellow ("I need assistance") | Carry orange as primary; yellow optional for emergencies |
| Length | 1 to 1.8 metres | Minimum 1.2 metres for visibility in Komodo's open water conditions |
How to Deploy an SMB
- At your safety stop (5 metres), unclip your SMB and attached reel or spool
- Hold the SMB vertical and inflate it using your alternate air source or by exhaling into the open end
- Release the SMB and let it rise to the surface while slowly letting the reel line pay out
- Maintain your depth — do not let the ascending SMB pull you upward
- Keep slight tension on the line so the SMB stays vertical and visible at the surface
Common Mistakes
- Tangled line: If your reel line tangles during deployment in current, let go of the reel rather than fighting it. A tangled line can cause an uncontrolled ascent.
- Uncontrolled ascent: If the SMB catches you and starts lifting you, dump air from your BCD immediately and let go of the reel if necessary.
- Insufficient inflation: A partially inflated SMB flops over at the surface and is not visible. Ensure it is fully inflated before release.
Essential tip: Practise SMB deployment in a pool or calm water before your Komodo trip. Deploying a 1.5-metre inflatable tube from 5 metres depth while maintaining buoyancy in a current is a skill that requires practice, not guesswork.
