On the water, be aware of divers-down flags

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reminds boaters and divers boaters and divers to use — and be on the lookout for — divers-down flags.

FWC encourages the practice of safe boating and diving habits by maintaining 360-degree awareness and adhering to all divers-down flag regulations.

Divers-down flags and buoys are crucial warning devices used by divers and dive vessels to signal the presence of divers in the water. These devices must feature a divers-down symbol — a red rectangle or square with a white diagonal stripe — and must be prominently displayed whenever divers are wholly or partially submerged and using a face mask, snorkel or underwater breathing apparatus.

“When navigating near a divers-down flag, boaters must operate at idle speed within 300 feet in open water or within 100 feet on rivers, inlets or navigational channels,” said Maj. Bill Holcomb, FWC Boating and Waterways section leader. “And divers need to stay within 300 feet of their properly displayed flags on open water and 100 feet on rivers, inlets or navigational channels.”

The divers-down symbol must measure at least 12-by-12 inches when displayed from the water, and at least 20-by-24 inches when displayed from a vessel, positioned at the highest point to maximize visibility. Flags must be constructed to remain fully unfurled, even in calm conditions, while buoys must display the symbol on each of their flat sides.

“In the summertime, there is a lot going on out there and these regulations are important for divers to remember whether they are diving for scallops in north Florida, lobster in South Florida or recreationally throughout the state,” said Col. Brian Smith, director of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement. “Vessel operators should be aware of what is going on around them at all times and be on the lookout for divers-down flags nearby. It’s also good to remember to take the dive flag down and wear a life jacket while underway. This is not just responsible boating and ensuring the safety of divers and the boating public — it’s also the law.”

Every year, the FWC responds to incidents where a diver was struck, injured or killed by a vessel. Working together, vessel operators and divers can each play a part in preventing tragedy on the water this summer.

For more information, go to myfwc.com/boating/regulations and select “Divers-down Warning Devices.”

Boating violations may be reported anonymously to the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922) or by texting 847411 (Tip411) with the keyword “FWC” and information about the location and violation. ¦

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission manages Florida’s statewide fish and wildlife resources. For more information, see myfwc.com .

The post On the water, be aware of divers-down flags first appeared on Charlotte County Florida Weekly .