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Buoy for Deep diving

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.

mortenkv

Well-Known Member
Jan 14, 2008
214
27
68
Hi all wise freedivers,

I have searched and searched...

Where can one buy a suitable buoy for deep freediving?

Thanks,
Morten
 
morten my friend apneaboy made a portable line from a garden hose reel
he had a bracket made which clips to the reel and two large marine buoys which then attatch to the bracket
the line is marked right down to 100m
when each of us dive it can be wound up or down whilst we are out on the lake/quarry

i am most certain he would have no problem taking a picture and mailing it to you
regards
james
 
Cool - I will like to see it!

But still also interested if you can buy them "ready made"

Morten
 
We don't use buoys..we made a counterweight..its a bit bigger than a buoy but its far more safer..
It is made grom aluminium and plastic..connected to a pontoon..there is a reel with 50m of line..and in case of an accident there is a 20kg bullet which will bring you back to the surface..
The whole construction is a new design..there are a few topics on the forum which can illustrate a bit how does it looki like but we added some new features so it works a bit better and safer.
I will try to add some photos of it as soon as possible but now the university..as Peter Griffin says..grounds my gear
 


Would love some pictures on that creation, we are planning on something similar for the summer.
 
Gwaihir said:
20 kg ? is that really enough ?
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Easily! We trained only up to 25m but it takes about 25s to take you out of deep straight to the top..earlier we tried with 15kg and it worked to, it was quick but 20kg is a more confident solution.
I'll try to add some pictures as soon as possible so you can see how does it look like and i'm planning to make a video to show how does it work, but for this it has to be warmer..now its 0C.
 
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were we dive its just not safe to leave a pontoon with a counter weight system floating around the quarry.
so the portable line is the safest option , the general public have access to the lake and it is overrun with young people during the summer , its just no good leaving something to swim out to
the buoys fit onto the back of my truck with the reel with great ease
i will organise some pics soon for you
 
Here are some photos..i couldn't find better ones..
As you can see it isn't so big..i think i it about 1.5m wide..
On the right side you can't see the depth plate..now its made from plastic with hoels in it so taht it flolws easier in the water and at the end there is 1kg weight so that the line keeps in one place..
on the other site which you cannot see is the counterweight..orange bullet maid of an old extinguisher with Pb inside..about 20kg..
In the boat there is the 50m line..before the holer diving you measure the depth you want to achieve, it is connected to the counterweight and the rest of the line stays on the bout..
In case of an emergency you just pull a "trigger" and weight pulls out our blacked out guy..
This year we added some new features..
1) the plate with holes
2) there rope is connected to trigger..about 10m of the rope..and the and is the hand of the guy who waits for the diver at the 10m stop..so that he can pull earlier the line if something is wrong..
I'll try to add some new photos on which you can see it closer.
 

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thats quite big i wouldnt call it a bhuoy its cool though whu
i wish we had the luxury of being able leave something like that at the site we go to
 
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The pontoon is 2m long and 1.2 wide..counter weight adds like 25-30cm to each side..
The alkes we are diving aren't big but they aren'tcovered with boats so much and we are in the middle so there isn't almost anyone swimming around..
We use this system beacause of safety, we used buoys before but the visibility so to bad so it wasn't safe enough.
 
the viz has been bad recently here too its improved a little with the cold spell
good luck with the diving bud
stay safe
jay
 
wow that is a really great setup, one question thoe, isnt the counter weight a bit close to the actual line.. do u guys dive with helmets
 
Reactions: Pastor
Gwaihir said:
wow that is a really great setup, one question thoe, isnt the counter weight a bit close to the actual line.. do u guys dive with helmets
Click to expand...

LOL no we stopped using them now.
But seriously there isn't such a possibility..lines are far enough and even when the water is rough because of the wind for example it is still 100% safe.
When i will se my buddy i'll post the eaxact dimension of this "vehicle".
 
You wont find anything 'ready made' but there's really no 'making' involved, other than attaching the winder to a buoy. Buy a regular "scotchman" boat fender at a marine supply. Buy a hose reel winder at a garden supply shop. get a few big carabiners. Make a regular weight belt with10 or 20 kg on it. Buy your line at a climbing shop when you get the carabiners. Put it all together. Easy-peezy, lemon-squeezy. Go diving!

It's a 2 man operation to deploy or wind the line usually.
 

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Yeah Jay, Laminar and Eric F used something similar to that when I was training with them, and I've made similar things myself. It can be done VERY cheaply. I have a tire tube with a nice cover over it that has a compartment to put extra weights, food water etc.
I built my first float line for about 10$ not including the weight belt.
 
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