Be safe, be seen! From your first steps as an Open Water Diver you’ve used a surface marker buoy. Polish your skills and expand them through the PADI Delayed Surface Marker Buoy Diver Specialty. Deploy an SMB from depth and complete your safety stop while you wait for your taxi (dive boat) to come along.
The correct deployment and use of Surface Marker Buoys (SMBs) and Delayed SMBs (dSMBs) is crucial to diving safely in the sea. Indeed in many areas their use has become mandatory.
SMBs are simple pieces of equipment and through the PADI Delayed Surface Marker Buoy specialty you will learn to use them on drift dives, deploy them from underwater and use them as an aid to safe ascents with your buddy.
Following a Knowledge Development Session lead by your PADI instructor you will complete two dives in open water over a single day.
You will practice and ultimate master SMB selection, ways to carry and deploy SMBs and dSMBs in various conditions both underwater and on the surface. Ultimately, you will learn the easiest techniques to deploy and use dSMBs.
This course will also count towards the prestigious PADI Master Scuba Diver rating and the first dive of this Specialty course may count towards the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Certification.
Price
Basic Course: £165
Standard Course: £207.50
Deluxe Course: £243
Executive Option: additional £100 on Basic, Standard or Deluxe Course fee.
Elite Option: We’ll come to you! For an additional £150 on the Basic, Standard or Deluxe Course fee we’ll complete the training at your own facilities.
Pre-requisites
Min Age: 12 years old
Medically Fit: Complete this Medical Statement and have GP countersign if required.
Ability: You will need to be PADI Open Water Diver (or Junior Open Water Diver) certified to enrol onto this course.
Reserve your place
Contact Us to Reserve your Place
Knowledge Development
You will complete the Knowledge Development with your instructor before before the fun bits start. With no course manual yet available, all required materials will be provided by your instructor on the day. You’ll then have chance to put the theory into practice during two open water dives.
Open Water Dives
Over the course of a day, you’ll complete two open water dives with your NHDC PADI Instructor. During these dives you’ll practice and come to master skills relating to:
- The various applications and uses of SMBs and dSMBs
- Considerations relating to when, where and how to use and deploy an SMB or dSMB
- Preparation of equipment before and after deployment
- The advantages diving with an SMB can bring
We’ll provide everything you need. We pride ourselves on ensuring there are no hidden costs.
We will provide all the basic, as well as specialised, equipment for diving while deploying delayed surface marker buoys. Comfort is everything in scuba diving, therefore if you already have your own equipment, we’d encourage you to bring it along to keep you warm and comfortable while you dive.
Knowledge Development will be lead by your PADI instructor and completed before you start your two open water dives.
Both the knowledge development and Open Water dives will be completed over a day at the weekend, usually a Saturday, with courses arranged on a regular basis.
New Horizons aims to be flexible with arranging courses to suit your schedule so if the scheduled dates are not convenient please give us a call to discuss suitable alternatives.
On all of our PADI Delayed Surface Marker Buoy Specialty course options you will receive…
- Coaching and on-going support from an experienced, passionate and professional PADI Instructor
- Equipment Orientation (when using specialised equipment)
- 1 hour (minimum) Knowledge Review (with your NHDC PADI Instructor)
- 1.5 hours (minimum) Skills Development (open water dives)
- FREE rental of all required equipment (including, but not limited to: cylinders & air fills, dive computer, fins, mask, snorkel, drysuit & undersuit, specialist equipment [e.g. surface marker buoy])
- PADI Certification
Our dives are usually completed in UK water, therefore we recommend you use a drysuit and undersuit for greater comfort. If you have no previous drysuit experience, we will arrange a pool based orientation session for an additional £40 before your weekend in Open Water so you are fully prepared and confident to jump in.
Please note, our course fees covers equipment rental, pool entry fees, PADI Certification fees etc, but do not cover entry fees to open water dive sites. These vary according to location; please ask for further details.
Basic Course
All of the above
Standard course
All of the above, plus a Mares all in one dSMB and finger reel.
Deluxe Course
All of the above, a Mares all in one dSMB and finger reel, plus a 40 meter ratchet reel.
Knowledge & Skills Development
With no course materials yet available, the Knowledge Development section of the course will be led by your PADI Instructor, who will provide you with all the necessary materials on the day.
This will be followed by two dives, completed in open water over a single day. During these dives, you’ll put into practice the things you’ve been learning about.
We offer standard schedules, with a minimum of 1.5 hours spent in the water selecting appropriate marker buoys before practising and ultimately mastering various specialist skills in using and deploying delayed surface marker buoys.
Basic Course
Complete the PADI Delayed Surface Marker Buoy Diver Specialty Course following our standard schedules.
Standard Course
Complete the PADI Delayed Surface Marker Buoy Diver Specialty Course following our standard schedules. Get practising during the course becoming ready to dive anywhere with your own Mares all in one dSMB and finger reel, yours to keep at the end of the course.
Deluxe Course
Complete the PADI Delayed Surface Marker Buoy Diver Specialty Course following our standard schedules. Get practising during the course becoming ready to dive anywhere with your own Mares all in one dSMB and finger reel. Give yourself flexibility in deploying the dSMB when wearing gloves with an additional 40 metre ratchet reel. All will be yours to keep at the end of the course.
Executive Option
Our standard schedules are designed to offer flexibility, however, if these aren’t convenient, or if you feel you’d benefit from the more personal touch, we can tailor our schedules to a more bespoke timetable.
This executive option allows a 1:1 program, giving you the chance to work with a member of the NHDC team to become a master of deep diving.
Elite Option
If you have access to your own facilities, we can come to you! We will work with you to make a truly tailor-made course schedule. When you’re ready, we’ll complete the Knowledge and Skills Development sections at your own facilities. Choose to join us at our usual open water dive sites, or let us escort you overseas. There’s a whole world of possibilities.
Trip Completion
This course may be conducted and completed on one of our trips. Please get in touch with the team to discuss this option and applicable discounts.
Payment Plans
A single £75 deposit will allow us to reserve your place on this course and all required equipment.
Further instalment payments can be made with the final balance paid before the open water dives. Talk to us about instalment payment options.
Let us know you want to join us! Simply send us a Course Booking Form and completed Medical Statement. Once we’ve received your deposit we’ll issue your course materials, so you can get started straight away!
Get in touch for our bank account details or to make payment over the phone.
Your place will be confirmed on receipt of the Course Medical Statement (Countersigned by a GP if required). Please note, we will not be able to start any in water activities without one!
