Everything You Need to Know about Swim Buoys for Snorkelling

Swim buoys are invaluable pieces of equipment for snorkelling enthusiasts. Not only do they make snorkelling more convenient, but they also are vital for keeping you safe while you’re out in the water. 

Now, if you’re new to snorkelling then you may not fully understand what these things are for. To help you out with this, we’ve prepared a short article containing everything that you need to know about swim buoys and how they can help you when you next go snorkelling.

What Is a Swim Buoy?

A swim buoy or marker buoy is an inflatable accessory that serves as a dive flag. Essentially, it lets other people around know that someone is in the water. You can just imagine how difficult it would be to spot you while you’re snorkelling if you didn’t have this marker around. 

Aside from being a physical indicator of your location, the swim buoy also acts as a resting platform if you need to take a break but still want to remain in the water. As the name suggests, it can also act as a buoyancy aid.

Benefits of Using Marker Buoys

Even people who are new to snorkelling know how important it is to have a dive flag or marker buoy. In fact, some places even require you to use one before they let you go out and dive. This is because it’s one of the most effective safety precautions that can help save you from potential accidents or mishaps in the water.

Aside from letting people track your whereabouts while you’re in the water, the buoy also lets other people know where you are so that they can avoid any accidents. This is particularly useful for any boats, surfers, and jet skis that are in the area that you are snorkelling in.

Types of Marker Buoys

Now, there are different types of marker buoys that you should know about, all of which have their own advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few of the most common types:

Dive Float with Flag: This is the classic surface marker buoy and is mostly just used to serve as a physical indicator of where you are.

Torpedo Buoy with Flag: Diving floats are designed to be carried on a long line that will then be affixed to underwater objects. However, this can be a little inconvenient for people who are snorkelling as there aren’t always objects that they can attach them to. You’ll also want to be wary of the long line as it can snag and put you in a tricky situation. To make things easier for you, look for a buoy that can be attached to your waist.

Safety Sausage: A safety sausage or dive sausage is a long inflatable tube that is usually red or orange to make it more visible. While this can be quite useful for floating, it’s not the most visible due to it lying flat on the water. However, it is useful when you can hold it upright and can quickly alert people of where you are.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped shed some light on the functions and purpose of the humble swim buoy. It’s really no surprise that it is considered one of the most important pieces of equipment for snorkelling as it can help make sure that you remain visible in the ocean. This can make all the difference in a critical situation, so it’s best to bring one with you whenever you go snorkelling!

If you’re looking for swim bags for your swim buoys that are best suited for outdoor use, Swim Secure has got you covered. Our bags are designed for open water swimmers and divers and are the best option when it comes to waterproof storage. For more information on our products, check out our site today!