Hybrid Marker

thingiverse

A referencing exit marker or REM serves as a versatile tool, doubling as an arrow for divers who install it and a cookie for others; hence its designation as a hybrid marker. Characterized by a rectangular shape with slots facilitating attachment to a line, the REM also features space for personal or team identification on one side and a small slate on the other for note-taking purposes, such as survey work, team separation (e.g., "I exited the cave at 37 minutes"), and more. To ensure clarity, referencing exit markers must be clearly labeled and marked to indicate the direction from which divers or teams approached; this personal identifier should not be mistaken by other divers who took a different route. When encountering a REM, divers should disregard its directional indication since an exit suitable for small sidemount divers may not be feasible for large back-mount divers. Cave divers often encounter varying markers across regions, emphasizing the importance of understanding local marking protocols before diving. Non-directional markers such as clothespins, cookies, REMs, and other similar markers should only be trusted if installed by the diver or team; all temporary markers must be removed once their intended use is fulfilled to prevent littering cave systems with non-directional markers or REMs. While global marker functions remain consistent, regional procedures for placement, retrieval, and personnel differ significantly. Clear briefings before each dive are essential to eliminate confusion within overhead environments by specifying when and where markers will be placed and retrieved by whom.