Gas Colors

[Jim Lapenta]

Maybe the guy who told him the bs about the flag actually meaning something sold him a few of them. Now he's po'd to find out that the only one they mean anything to is the chucklehead who came up with it in the first place and is making money from suckers who fall for the gag. I would love to see somebody try to market a trimix flag. That would be funny as they would in all probablility be dealing with alot less gullible people. Trimix flag ya say? Here's what you can do with your trimix flag. And again FLAG COLORS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GAS YOU ARE USING! In addition a so-called nitrox flag would not meet any legal requirement calling for a flag to be displayed for diving purposes. In fact it might get you cited for trying to get away with using it for that. It's a decoration for the same people who collect badges and sew em on their jackets and only means you spent X dollars that could have been spent on something useful but chose not to. Nothing more

 

[kjvander]

As far as flags go there are only two that are really in use....the red/white diver down flag and the blue/white alpha flag.

As both of these flags have been described of what they mean i won't repeat....

as for the yellow green. Tanks had started to be marked with Nitrox labels when the gas became more popular to prevent untrained divers from grabbing the wrong tank and also just as a way to mark it. Most of the guys that i dive around acutally just have "Custom Mix" labels on their tanks that are just plain white with red and black lettering.

as far as the flag that dive under it should be a red flag with a white stripe....this indicates diver down. what ever gas you are diving is your own business and shouldn't matter....I think that the yellow/green flag you have seen is a marketing ploy as the same goes for green/yellow nitrox license plate frames and dive plates for your car. It is another item to sell. So as far as someone coming up with a color to "represent" trimix i don't think that anyone has. I know that most of the trimix tanks that i've seen and been around have just been normal tanks with custom mix stickers on them. and people dive trimix/nitrox/air/oxygen....all under a diver down flag....whether it be in a river or in the middle of Lake michigan...same flag...same purpose.

 

[rstofer]

1. A flag that is Red w/ Diagonal white stripe / top left to bottom right = Diver Down..USA..we can make a logical jump that the diver/s are using AIR

How do you consider that jump logical? Just because the flag existed long before Nitrox? You have the same requirement to display the flag regardless of the gas or type of diving you are doing. I haven't checked but it may very well be required for free divers. And it certainly applies to rebreather divers. Who knows what they are breathing? It is intended to warn boaters that a diver may surface. Hopefully quite close to the flag.

In that regard, it is no different than the flag used for water skiing. When the skier is in the water (as opposed to actually skiing), there is a requirement for someone on the boat to hold up a red flag.

2. A flag that is blue-and-white swallow-tailed = the International Code of Signals has established it to mean: "I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed." once more we can make the logical jump that since it is international gas type is irrelevant.

That isn't a logical leap either!

ColRegs - The Rules of the Road - International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea has a parallel document called Inland Rules. If you look at the book, the pages are printed facing each other so you can clearly see the differences. Inernational on the left page, Inland on the right page. If you look at nautical charts, there will be a line at harbor entrances that indicate when to use Inland Rules These are called ColRegs Demarcation Lines.

ColRegs (Inland Rules) applies to all navigable waters. Essentially, those waters that are patrolled by the Coast Guard.

ColRegs specifies the use of the Alpha Flag It signifies that the vessel is restricted in its ability to maneuver. It does not mean that the diver is in the water, it doesn't have to be posted within proximity to the diver. It simply means the boat is claiming that certain restrictions exist and that it can not be expected to give way to another vessel.

This is all spelled out in Rule 27 for both International and Inland Rules See PDF page 106-107 here: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/mwv_files/NR_Files/navrules.pdf

Neither set of rules mentions a red/white diver down flag because that is strictly a local matter.

There is no recognition outside of an LDS for a green/yellow flag. The red/white flag, its size and proximity to the diver's position is a matter of law.

Richard

 

[Ann Marie]

well that just goes to show you that people on this thread can not figure anything out.
Sooo...let me spell it out in plan English with all the bells and whistles so the baby's can understand it..Oh and by the way DennisW did answer my question...THANK YOU!!

Barring any other BS you want to read into this, this is what it is.

1. A flag that is Red w/ Diagonal white stripe / top left to bottom right = Diver Down..USA..we can make a logical jump that the diver/s are using AIR

2. A flag that is blue-and-white swallow-tailed = the International Code of Signals has established it to mean: "I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed." once more we can make the logical jump that since it is international gas type is irrelevant.

3. Now since someone / somebody / some organization created a flag that is lime green w/ Diagonal yellow stripe / top left to bottom right = Diver Down..USA..we are told it to mean Nitrox, I really do not care if it is being flown at dive sites or not, if you use it or not, if you acknowledge it as a flag or not!! that's not in question. but what is is the fact that we do have a nitrox flag! bitch and argue all you want but that fact is true.

4. now here we go, just for the baby's..we can breath basically from three forms of gas...(keyword here (basically)) O / N / He. and this is what we call in the diving world as a trimix blended gas. and as DennisW has stated no one has come up with a color whether in the form of a sticker, patch or even a flag!
Now as I stated before "I really do not care if you would fly it at dive sites or not, if you would use it or not, if you acknowledge it as a flag or not!! that's not in question. but what is is the fact that we do have a nitrox flag! and someone will make a trimix flag soon. bitch and argue all you want but that fact is true.

Sheesh, why risk an aneurysm over a discussion!?

Would you please site a reference for #3 being a USCG recognized flag, I can't find it anywhere?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

That's because it is not. He just can't seem to get over that some guy made a fool out of him. Told him something that was full of crap, he got on here thinking he had just discovered something new, would lead to something else, and now is upset because he got told that was was said is BS. Now he has to try and justify his statements rather than admit he got punked. And in fact every one of his statements that was made is false due to the info he was given. And he may in fact be correct. That someone will come up with a trimix flag. And that person will be laughed at and ridiculed to no end, especially in the tech community. Just like we are doing with the so-called "Nitrox Flag". No bitching here just stating that it is not a proper or even recognized flag. It is a gimmick to relieve the gullible of their money.

 

[ScubaSteve]

well that just goes to show you that people on this thread can not figure anything out.

 

[ScubaSteve]

 

[Ana]

3. Now since someone / somebody / some organization created a flag that is lime green w/ Diagonal yellow stripe / top left to bottom right = Diver Down..USA..we are told it to mean Nitrox, I really do not care if it is being flown at dive sites or not, if you use it or not, if you acknowledge it as a flag or not!! that's not in question. but what is is the fact that we do have a nitrox flag! bitch and argue all you want but that fact is true.

yep... sure.

Make a Nitrox dive anywhere in the coast of Florida using that green/yellow flag. Try to find a spot where a Marine Patrol can easily sea you. I'm sure the officer that comes to talk to you and give you a ticket will be happy to tell you what color flag you'll need for TRIMIX.

That fact you talk about is not a fact. That green/yellow "flag" is not more FACT than the green/yellow stickers with the "VoooDooo gas" or "Old Farts Gas" printed on them.

Not bitching or arguing, just enjoying the show

 

[Clanggedin]

I see this alot lately, not only on this forum, but multiple forums. Its where the OP asks a question but flips out when the answer is not what they want to hear... The truth usually hurts.

 

[ONESPEED]

1. A flag that is Red w/ Diagonal white stripe / top left to bottom right = Diver Down..USA..we can make a logical jump that the diver/s are using AIR

I've breathed air, nitrox, AND trimix under that flag, clearly my training was not thorough enough to teach me what flag I should be diving under for the gas I am using at the time.