Transom painted with Diver Down Flag

[scotsohm]

Saw a 36’ sailboat in the Marina with the whole transom painted as a Diver Down Flag.

A little unnerving to say the least but is displaying this flag as a transom require me to avoid the boat?
Is it legal to display when no diver is down and or is the owner just an idiot.

[Lazy1]

Seen plenty of dive charter boats with painted on flags. I think the paint can be ignored but not a real flag

[Orion Jim]

Seems foolish as no one is obligated to honor it....hope the owner doesn’t feel it is sufficient notice of a diver down.

[HopCar]

If I came upon that boat at anchor, I’d treat it like a real dive flag. The guy might actually have someone in the water. I’d feel real bad if I hit someone, even if he was wrong.

[Sojourner]

Originally Posted by HopCar

If I came upon that boat at anchor, I’d treat it like a real dive flag. The guy might actually have someone in the water. I’d feel real bad if I hit someone, even if he was wrong.

I would too, inasmuch as I would give them the proper distance, keep an eye out, and not zip around them in my dinghy too close. In other words, normal seamanship and courtesy for anyone at anchor. But to paraphrase from lebowski, a diver down flag draws a lotta water in this town... a painted on flag don't draw $&!(

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, scotsohm.

In Florida, divers must make a reasonable effort to stay within 100 feet of the divers-down flag, or buoy, on rivers, inlets, and navigation channels. Similarly, any person operating a vessel must make a reasonable effort to stay more than 100 feet from the divers-down flag or buoy in these areas.
Divers must make reasonable efforts to stay within 300 feet of the divers-down flag or buoy on all waters other than rivers, inlets, and navigation channels. Any person operating a vessel on waters other than a river, inlet, or navigation channel must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from any divers-down flag or buoy.
On boats, flags are required to be at least 20” x 24” and must be displayed from the highest point of the boat that will present an unobstructed view from all directions.

[Franziska]

The problem is that you can not see this from most directions. If you approach them from astern you can see it, but not from other points of view.
A flag you can see most of the time.

Guess a prudent dive boat captain would put up a flag too.

[dwedeking2]

Originally Posted by Franziska

The problem is that you can not see this from most directions. If you approach them from astern you can see it, but not from other points of view.
A flag you can see most of the time.

Guess a prudent dive boat captain would put up a flag too.

I think the complaint was that the transom flag was just decoration which causes confusion. Though I'm not sure why you would want to get close to a stationary boat even without a flag...

[JPA Cate]

I would guess that you have someone who singlehands a lot and dives. No idea whether the person might display the flag when diving from the boat at anchor. Should, but one sees lots of violations out on the water. The fishing boats who never remove the basket from their riggng come to mind.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

I would guess that you have someone who singlehands a lot and dives. No idea whether the person might display the flag when diving from the boat at anchor. Should, but one sees lots of violations out on the water. The fishing boats who never remove the basket from their riggng come to mind.

We've got a visiting boat in the marina at the moment with both an anchor ball and a motoring cone on display

[Franziska]

Guess they must be using a dynamic position system.

(Only joking!!!)

Originally Posted by StuM

We've got a visiting boat in the marina at the moment with both an anchor ball and a motoring cone on display

[Smokeys Kitchen]

Originally Posted by StuM

We've got a visiting boat in the marina at the moment with both an anchor ball and a motoring cone on display

So they can't decide whether they are coming or going ???

[tarian]

Dive Flags
When flown from a vessel, the diver down flag should be at least 20 inches by 24 inches and flown above the vessel's highest point. When displayed from a buoy, the flag should be at least 12 inches by 12 inches

The transom therefore should be ignored and not though about as anything but decoration, why get confused the law is pretty clear.

[dgz3]

I would treat it the same way I treat cars displaying dive flag decals. Ignore it.

[sailm8]

Maybe just a clever idea to keep you from anchoring too close?