Divers Down Flag

RickBowman · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007

edited out

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007

Sounds like a good idea to me. From the following website:

Quote:

The Dive Flag (or Skin Diver's Flag) is an international symbol to boaters of diving activities in the area. It is meant as a safety precaution, since divers may surface unexpectedly. Divers developed this flag in 1957. Most states now have laws requiring the use of the dive flag. Many of those states impose fines or even jail time if a dive flag is not displayed or if a boat travels within an unsafe distance of the flag. Divers are expected to stay within a certain radius of a boat displaying a dive flag or they should take a buoy displaying the dive flag with them. The dive flag should not be displayed unless divers are currently in the water.

Dive flags are designed with a red field and a white stripe running diagonally from the top left of the flag to the lower right. This flag shouldn't be smaller than 12 inches square, and the white stripe measures one-fifth the flag's width. These measurements are to ensure visibility by boaters from a distance.

International Code Flag "A" (Alpha) may be displayed in conjunction with a dive flag. Divers are required to display the Alpha Flag when diving from a boat. This is to show that the boat's maneuverability is limited because of diving activity. The dive flag is displayed whether a boat's maneuverability is restricted or not.

Both of these flags are meant to protect divers from boating injuries, so it is important to comply with state and federal laws regarding these flags. Since the state laws vary, make sure you obey the distance regulations listed by your state to avoid accidents, fines and/or jail time.

sailingdog · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007

Rick-

Don't assume that just because there isn't a vessel present that there are no divers in the water. That isn't always the case. The most extreme case I can think of was the case that became the basis for a movie a couple of years ago. IIRC, the movie was called "Open Water".

Gary M · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007

That sounds like a good plan, as an active diver I would not like to see the flag used except when someone is activley diving. If people are using them just to mark and anchor, then it is likely that boaters will start to take them for granted.
Not all boaters respect them now so any competent diver will stop at about 10 feet and listen for the sound of a prop. As a skin diver of course you do not have that option.

Gary

Hawkwind · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007

I've watched propeller screws going over my head while I was pulling an inner tube with a dive flag. I think the stink boaters thought it was a racing pylon.

I'm sure it helps but there's always an idiot. /shrug

Be safe.

CapnHand · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007

One of my course instructors wrote "Diver Below" on his float / flag. This was after being dragged to the surface by a boater who tried to take it. Good luck with yours, Mr. Bowman.

sailingdog · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007

Unfortunately, there will always be someone that stupid, ignorant or greedy to do something like that... stealing the float/flag.. pathetic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnHand

One of my course instructors wrote "Diver Below" on his float / flag. This was after being dragged to the surface by a boater who tried to take it. Good luck with yours, Mr. Bowman.

Bermuda30 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007

Fly the alpha from the boat up the mast, and carry the dive flag with you (innertube,small boat,ect). UNfortunately, there are lots and lots of idiots out there that have no idea what either of these mean, so watch yourself.

jboatjack · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007

They have red light cameras because drivers reguarly run red lights. I would never expect a boater to recognize or acknowledge any "flag".

MoonSailer · #10 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007

A diver flag might help a little but I don't depend upon it for safety. I was towing one and had a "fisherman" grab it and start pulling me to the surface. His excuse was that he thought that it was a "fish buoy " I guess he was in the habit of stealing fish. I have also had boaters go directly over me passing my dive flag even after my wife warned them that a diver was below. Their reply was that they had a right to beach their boat wherever they wished.
When lake diving or anywhere there is a lot of boat traffic I come up as close to shore as possible. Even that is no guarentee as I have almost been hit by fishermen trolling very close to shore. Getting into a small cove helps but even there sometimes water skiiers will come into small coves for no apparent reason. BE CAREFULL.