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23-08-2015, 09:26
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Boat: Bayfield 29C
Posts: 80
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Questions about diver down flag
Wiki states that the diver down flag can be flown from a boat as well as a float. Is it acceptable-- even in Florida --to fly a red/white diver flag from the starboard spreader? What is the typical radius/distance from the flag (wherever it's displayed) a diver can (legally) wander?
Also, does anyone here know offhand whether Bahamas requires the int'l blue & white diver flag, or is the US red/white flag recognized?
-thanks
__________________
Rick Willis
Williamsburg, VA
Bayfield 29 - s/v Puffin
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23-08-2015, 09:32
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Boat: Bayfield 29C
Posts: 80
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
Well, here's a partial answer: Dive Flag Law
__________________
Rick Willis
Williamsburg, VA
Bayfield 29 - s/v Puffin
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23-08-2015, 10:10
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2008
Boat: Bestevaer 49
Posts: 16,151
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
Quote:
Originally Posted by austinrick
What is the typical radius/distance from the flag (wherever it's displayed) a diver can (legally) wander?
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It is not the legal issue, but the safety one that would concern me. If I am diving on my own I trail a float with an alpha flag (the international signal for diver below) and it is never more than 5-10m from me when I am freediving. Being "in the right" is little consolation if a speed boat passes over you when you surface.
SWL
__________________
SWL (enthusiastic amateur)
"To me the simple act of tying a knot is an adventure in unlimited space." Clifford Ashley
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea." Isak Dinesen
Unveiling Bullseye strops for low friction rings
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23-08-2015, 10:25
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Caribbean winters, North Dakota/Minnesota summers
Boat: Leopard 39 Owners Version
Posts: 372
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
in Minnesota, the diver down flag give you a hundred and fifty feet of clearance whether it's on a float or on the boat.
I find when I travel a lot of boaters don't know the blue and white International dive flag, I trust the red and white diver down flag much more. You will even find that dive shops in other countries are more apt to be running the red and white diver down flag at least that's what I've seen.
I always fly the red and white diver down flag when I'm free diving. don't really Scuba much
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23-08-2015, 10:28
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Caribbean winters, North Dakota/Minnesota summers
Boat: Leopard 39 Owners Version
Posts: 372
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
and let's not start stories about idiots using the dive flag as a race marker.
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23-08-2015, 11:10
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#6
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pangaea
Posts: 10,856
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
As a scuba diver and free diver enthusiast I know what the flag looks like and I use one. That said... it's so easy to not see one, so I look out for boats and basically assume that I'm invisible and that nobody sees the flagged buoy.
Twice this past week I missed a diver down flag while motoring and sailing our boat. The first time, the diver was where me and others would never have expected him to be 200 meters off the coastal rocks and in the middle of a bay. The second time, the swimmer was just being an idiot and came less than five feet from broadsiding our boat with his head. His escort boat had stopped paddling to allow us to pass, then knucklehead swims across from behind the paddle boat and right into us. He's was pissed... And stupid for not watching where he was going.
Basically, always assume you're invisible when snorkeling or diving... or riding a bike. After cycling for over 100,000 miles during the past 15 years, I've never been hit by a car or gotten into an argument with a motorist by assuming I'm invisible. All my friends have been hit at least once.
You may be in the right... But you could end up dead right.
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23-08-2015, 11:37
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#7
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֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
Check out the FLORIDA laws on one of their state web sites. Even the flag size is specified, and differs from other states.
The problem with a float is that some idiot in a boat is always coming right to it, to see what the floating thing is. Had a watercop in Westchester (LI sound) actually motor up to our boat "to investigate because no one was in it" despite the floating dive flag bobbing around next to it. How do you say, politely, "Officer, just take out your summons book and write yourself up." ?
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23-08-2015, 13:42
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,002
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
Usually go down and back up the anchor line. Makes it easy to hold a depth if you need to and if they hit me, they were clearly too close.
In principal, it's nice to say you have X ft radius but reality is something as simple as calm winds can make the flag hard to see and I wouldn't count on anyone seeing your head sticking up just out of the water.
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23-08-2015, 14:08
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,514
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenomac
As a scuba diver and free diver enthusiast I know what the flag looks like and I use one. That said... it's so easy to not see one, so I look out for boats and basically assume that I'm invisible and that nobody sees the flagged buoy.
Twice this past week I missed a diver down flag while motoring and sailing our boat. The first time, the diver was where me and others would never have expected him to be 200 meters off the coastal rocks and in the middle of a bay. The second time, the swimmer was just being an idiot and came less than five feet from broadsiding our boat with his head. His escort boat had stopped paddling to allow us to pass, then knucklehead swims across from behind the paddle boat and right into us. He's was pissed... And stupid for not watching where he was going.
Basically, always assume you're invisible when snorkeling or diving... or riding a bike. After cycling for over 100,000 miles during the past 15 years, I've never been hit by a car or gotten into an argument with a motorist by assuming I'm invisible. All my friends have been hit at least once.
You may be in the right... But you could end up dead right.
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Yep, be very much on the Defensive side. Hard to see and divers often stray far afield. Once returning on a dive boat in heavy wind chop we passed close to a diver who was afield from his flag which also was hard to see. Seems like the guy was way out in the bay for some reason.
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard
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23-08-2015, 14:17
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,485
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
Quote:
Originally Posted by austinrick
Wiki states that the diver down flag can be flown from a boat as well as a float. Is it acceptable-- even in Florida --to fly a red/white diver flag from the starboard spreader? What is the typical radius/distance from the flag (wherever it's displayed) a diver can (legally) wander?
Also, does anyone here know offhand whether Bahamas requires the int'l blue & white diver flag, or is the US red/white flag recognized?
-thanks
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IIRC the diver down flag is ONLY legally recognized in FL, but recognized by boaters almost universally. To be technically compliant outside of FL you have to fly the Alpha flag too. But, I've seen dive boats with both permanently afixed...in metal...both in and out of FL.
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23-08-2015, 20:20
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#11
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,184
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
Quote:
But, I've seen dive boats with both permanently afixed...in metal...both in and out of FL.
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One of my pet peeves, along with fishing vessels that permanently display their "engaged in fishing/trawling,etc" shapes and lights. And they wonder why some folks don't respect those symbols... Grrrr!
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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23-08-2015, 21:16
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Boat: Island Packet 40
Posts: 6,451
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Cate
One of my pet peeves, along with fishing vessels that permanently display their "engaged in fishing/trawling,etc" shapes and lights. And they wonder why some folks don't respect those symbols... Grrrr!
Jim
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How are you folks finding New Caledonia, thinking of a visit myself.
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23-08-2015, 22:27
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#13
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,184
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
Quote:
Originally Posted by RaymondR
How are you folks finding New Caledonia, thinking of a visit myself.
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** thread drift **
We enjoy NC a lot.. been here a dozen times or so over the years andstill find new places to go.
But right now the truckies are on a rampage (or strike or whatever...) and blockading the towns... and the marina entrance as well.
In fact, I think I will start a thread about our recent escape from that trap!
So, have a look there for the details.
Cheers,
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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23-08-2015, 22:54
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Athens, Georgia, USA
Boat: Formerly MacGregor Venture 22, now a landlubber
Posts: 100
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
Having lived in FL for seven years, I can tell you that every enforcement officer I ran into had their own interpretation of the diver down flag law. It's also one of their favorite ways to pop tourists for $150 or whatever it is now.
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24-08-2015, 00:03
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Oakland, CA
Boat: Freedom 38
Posts: 2,503
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Re: Questions about diver down flag
Here's a good site: Dive Flag Law. But please don't depend on Wiki for legal questions. You could also call a dive shop in the state/country you're visiting. Anyway, the closer the flag is to the diver, the better; but having (another) one on the spreader is not a bad idea for boats that are farther away. Most of the people I know fly both international and US diver down flags. In cases with divers and boats, more is better, too.
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