It’s bright, it’s orange, and it just might save your life. The Surface Marker Buoy (SMB), affectionately known in the dive world as a “safety sausage,” is arguably the most important piece of safety equipment you can carry in your BCD pocket. Whether you’re surfacing among weekend boat traffic at an Arizona lake or drifting along a deep wall in the Sea of Cortez, an SMB ensures boats can see you and your crew can find you. Here is everything you need to know about this essential tool and why you should never make a splash without one.