Safety Sausage: Get the Dive Boat to See You

"Why the heck didn't I buy a safety sausage?" This is what you will be thinking (besides a few choice words, of course) if you surface a distance away from the dive boat and the boat doesn't see you.

Whether you lost the group underwater or got carried away with the current, it is never a good feeling.

And surfacing and only barely seeing the dive boat does not help matters. 


You may think it is easy to see you while you are at the surface. Trust me, it's not. Divers will pretty much blend in with the water, especially if there are waves and whitecaps. You need something to make you stand out and attract the attention of the dive boat.

This is where a scuba sausage comes into play. It is one of the cheaper scuba diving accessories to buy and one you will be infinitely grateful to have if you ever need one. So let's get started.

What is a scuba diving safety sausage?

It is actually a very simple device. Most sausages are long, thin tubes made of brightly colored material. You fill them with air so you will be visible from quite a distance away. They are rolled up and can fit into a BC pocket or attached to clip on a scuba bcd.

safety sausage

What should I look for in a safety sausage?

There are many different sized sausages out there but you should get one that is at least 6 foot long (even taller is better). Think of it. If there are any kind of swells or waves, you want the sausage to be able to be seen over the waves.

Get one made of heavy material. The last thing you want is a sausage that rips at the seams when you fill it with air. Might as well not have one at all.

Sausages come in many different colors. Fluorescent yellow and orange are usually cited as being the best colors. Bright orange is usually recommended as being the easiest color to see in most conditons.

How do I use a safety sausage?

OK, you're at the surface and have determined that the dive boat cannot see you. Don't panic. Take out your safety tube and unroll it. You can inflate it orally, with your regulator (or octopus) or with your BC inflator hose depending on the type of sausage you have.

safety sausage

It is a good idea to practice inflating your safety device before you dive with it. You will be stressed enough if you ever need to use it, so you don't want this to be the time to practice using it. The sooner you get it out, the better - especially if you are in a current.

Sausages can also get holes in them so it is also a good idea to inflate the device before you dive to make sure all is OK.

Hold the sausage up so the dive boat can see you. The sausage should stand upright but sometimes in windy conditions it may bend over. Do the best you can to get it to stand straight so it is easier to spot. Once the dive boat sees your, leave the sausage inflated so other boat traffic will also be able to spot you.

You should try and have the sausage attached to you in some way. The last thing you want is the device to be blown away from you and watch the boat going after the sausage and not you.

Safety Sausage Recommendation

This scuba safety sausage should do the trick. No more debating about the color. It has the two highest recommended colors - yellow on one side and orange on the other side.

I highly recommend getting a dive safety sausage. You never know what will happen. They don't cost much and it could save your life. It will be the last thing you want to use, but if you need it, you will sure be glad you have it.

Have a safe dive!

Go to main Scuba Diving Accessories page

Return to Scuba Diving Home

 Want to stay down longer and improve your buoyancy control and other diving skills? Our free report "Increase Your Bottom Time" along with our practical, weekly actionable tips will have you looking like a seasoned diver in no time. So come join us and see improvement on your very next dive!
(Click on the photo to join us now!)

Click here to subscribe

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

What's New

RSS

  1. Unofficially Summer

    May 25, 24 07:19 AM

    Well it is finally here. Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer! Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday weekend. Hopefully the weather cooperates wherever you are and you will b…

    Read More

  2. Happy New Year

    Jan 01, 24 06:00 AM

    Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone is well and had a fun New Years Eve! May your new year be filled with lots of wonderful dives. All the best to you and yours in 2024! Let the dives begin.

    Read More

  3. Happy Holidays

    Dec 14, 23 05:05 AM

    I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! I am always amazed at how fast time flies and another year is just around the corner. I wanted to pop in and say hi to everyone. I am doing some full ti…

    Read More

  4. 3 Common Scuba Diving Mistakes New Divers Make

    Feb 23, 23 02:18 PM

    3 Common Scuba Diving Mistakes
    In this video, I share 3 common scuba diving mistakes beginner divers make. Learn how to correct these for a better - and safer - dive.

    Read More

  5. Scuba Diving Tipping Etiquette: How Much And When To Tip Scuba Crew

    Feb 06, 23 03:34 PM

    scuba diving tipping etiquette
    Not sure of scuba diving tipping etiquette? In this video I share who to tip, when to tip, how much to tip, tipping on liveaboards, tipping an instructor & more

    Read More