What should be placed on the surface during a night dive?

During a night dive, placing a marker buoy or surface light on the surface is crucial for safety and navigation. This serves a dual purpose: it helps divers easily identify their entry and exit point in the water and signals their location to boat traffic or other divers nearby. Visibility can be significantly limited at night, making it challenging to return to the starting point without a reference.

Using a marker buoy or surface light ensures that divers can locate their ascent point, preventing disorientation or getting lost underwater. Additionally, it enhances safety by alerting others to the presence of divers in the area, reducing the risk of accidental collisions with boats. This practice integrates well with responsible diving protocols in low-visibility situations, emphasizing the importance of awareness and safety measures when diving at night.