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—— Gear Review · Safety

Molchanovs Waypoint Buoy

~35L · Line reel system included · High visibility

The best buoy for structured depth training: the included line reel system, large volume, and Molchanovs build quality are worth the premium if you're doing serious depth sessions.

9.0 / 10
—— Verdict
Recommended for depth training
Molchanovs · Safety
—— Price (USD)
~$120
Affiliate link · disclosed below
—— What we like
  • + Includes line reel system, no need to buy separately
  • + 35L volume handles full competition-style line setups
  • + High visibility color reduces the risk of boat collisions
  • + Durable construction consistent with Molchanovs quality
—— What to know
  • − Expensive for recreational use, more than most divers need
  • − Larger and heavier to transport than the Salvimar
Marcus Webb
Marcus Webb
Freediving Researcher and Editor
Published · Jul 8, 2025 Updated · Apr 28, 2026
— Section 01

Overview

The Molchanovs Waypoint is the buoy for divers who treat sessions as structured training rather than casual open water dives. The included line reel system is the differentiating feature: it means you can vary depths within a session, store your line cleanly between sessions, and deploy a proper competition-style training setup without sourcing components separately.

The 35L volume supports heavy training setups without the marginal pull-under risk that smaller buoys show with competition-spec bottom weights. The high-visibility orange color provides meaningful boat hazard reduction compared to the yellow Salvimar in lower-visibility conditions.

For recreational divers doing occasional open water sessions, the Salvimar at $30 less is the smarter purchase. For divers training multiple times per week with depth progression goals, the Waypoint's system integration is worth the premium.

—— Frequently asked

Questions about
Molchanovs Waypoint Buoy.

01 Do I need a line reel for recreational freediving? +
Not necessarily. A fixed-length line attached to a surface float works for recreational depth diving to 20-25m. A reel becomes useful when you want to vary depth targets across a session without deploying multiple fixed lines. For serious training where you're progressively adding depth targets, a reel system makes session management much cleaner.
02 Is the Molchanovs Waypoint worth $120 vs the Salvimar at $90? +
If you don't have a line reel: yes, the reel plus a Salvimar would cost more than the Waypoint. If you already have a reel: probably not, unless you specifically need the extra 5L of volume or want the Molchanovs ecosystem cohesion.
—— Compare with

Related safety reviews.

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Salvimar Freediving Buoy Review: Best Overall

The best all-around freediving buoy: large enough to stay visible and support a weighted training line, with every feature needed for open water practice.
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Omer Buoy Float Review: Best Value

Good build quality at a lower price than Salvimar: adequate volume for most recreational training setups, with fewer attachment points.
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IST Sports Freediving Float Review: Best Budget Buoy

The cheapest buoy that works: suitable for calm shallow water and casual recreational use, but too small for a training line setup with bottom weight.
Freediving Guides · 2026 Edition 04
—— Sources

What this article is based on

  1. Going to extremes of lung physiology: deep breath-hold divingFrontiers in Physiology, 2021
  2. AIDA International, the world freediving federationAIDA International
  3. About AIDA: rules, disciplines and competition standardsAIDA International
  4. CMAS, the World Underwater FederationCMAS