—— Verdict
Budget option, casual use only
IST Sports · Safety
—— Price (USD)
~$50
Affiliate link · disclosed below
—— What we like
- + Lowest price in the category
- + Lightweight and easy to pack
- + Adequate for calm, shallow recreational diving
—— What to know
- − 18L volume pulls under with a standard weighted training line
- − Basic PVC construction shows wear faster
- − No integrated flag, flag attachment is basic
Marcus Webb
Freediving Researcher and Editor
Published · Jul 10, 2025 Updated · Apr 28, 2026
— Section 01
Overview
The IST float is what you buy when you want the cheapest possible buoy to try open water freediving for the first time. It marks your position, it provides a surface reference, and it floats, which is the minimum viable product.
The 18L limitation becomes apparent once you want to set up a proper training line with a bottom weight. At 2 kg of bottom weight at 30m, this float disappears beneath the surface. For shallow casual diving with a short, light line and no bottom weight, it functions adequately.
Consider it a trial purchase. Once you're doing structured training, you'll want the Salvimar. But the IST removes the barrier to trying open water diving on a minimal budget.
—— Sources