When surface visibility from a distance is important, such as when the diver is hanging under a bag during deco, many divers choose the Dive Rite Surface Marking Tube. Similar in operation to a lift bag, but tube-shaped, the Surface Marking Tube is approximately { 5 ft | 1.5 m } tall by { 8 in | 20.3 cm } wide (when flat) with an over pressure relief valve (OPV) and has reflective tape at the top end. The Dive Rite Surface Marking Tube is a hybrid that can be used two different ways:

• The hybrid marking tube is open at the bottom as with the lift bag and incorporates an ingenious funnel-shaped internal baffle that allows the tube to be inflated as usual with a regulator second stage at depth, but prevents the tube from unintentionally deflating should it fall over while on the surface.
  
  
• The hybrid marking tube also has an oral/power inflator that allows the tube to be inflated at the surface (like a "safety sausage") or at depth. Perfect for rebreather divers, using the oral/power inflator with the low pressure hose on a bailout bottle makes inflation manageable without the use of diluent gas.

The hybrid marking tube includes an over pressure valve to allow excess gas to vent during ascent and/or to deflate the bag before boarding the boat. Available only in ANSI safety orange, the marking tube also includes its own built-in carrying sleeve. Although the marking tube should NOT be used as a lift bag, for emergency purposes a full tube may be considered to have approximately { 30 lb | 13.6 kg } of lift.

A usage note... the hybrid marking bag is not fully closed by design and if you inflate it when dry (i.e. at home, to 'test' it), you will discover gas slowly leaks out through the bottom baffle. This does not cause a problem in actual in-water use, where the water will cause the baffle to seal.