Dragging a flag

[BlueTrin]

As you pointed out it has a rating to when the safety snap breaks. The OP was concerned a propeller would drag them up. So my solution is the safety snap. They are using the float for safety. You probably dive once a year.

How do you define a safety snap?

My understanding is that it is a safety against accidental unhooking. English is not my first language so could be wrong.

Do you have a source for the tensile strength to break for it to be safe for towing a flag?

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[sourdough]

I was wondering about this too, so far the thing seems to be pass the flag reel to someone else if you're moving and filming otherwise tie the flag reel off somewhere and stay within range while you film.

With a one hand camera I can manage both simultaneously but it's not elegant, and the camera stability suffers.

 

[Tassi Devil Diver]

Don't bother about dragging a flag around, just not needed, place it off your entry/ exit point.

 

[SlugLife]

I had my first experience trying to drag a dive flag (required by shop supposedly for safety .. I tried to argue that my DSMB was sufficient notice I could deploy when surfacing but got overruled and it is their shop so their rules). My hands are already busy (full DSLR system, sidemount reg switches at least a few times) so holding the flag as suggested by the rental shop was not a great option. I was also hesitant to clip it to my harness for safety reasons, in case a boater or jet ski decided it would be fun to take a run at the flag (it happens, I have seen this behavior). I think what I should do next time is create a leash with paracord I can attach to the handle of the flag spool, and then attached the leash to my harness some something that will break away easily (zip tie?) if a boater snags the flag. Thoughts?

Initial impressions, having not read the remainder of the thread yet.

This seems super-weird to me. How or why is the dive-shop dictating how you dive? Is this a class or dive-charter? This is a safety-hazard. You mentioned the boats playing bowling with your dive-flag of course. However, it's also a massive entanglement hazard. Worse if multiple divers are dragging around these flags.

My choices:

• Find another dive-shop
• Pretend to comply
• If it's a legal requirement see below

If you're legally required to tow one (dumb IMO, but regardless), there are no scuba-police, but always the possibility of being arrested on the surface. Put a weight/anchor on the bottom of the line of the dive-flag. Pull the cord by hand, and when you are remaining in an area, let go of the flag, swim around, then grab the flag as you move to the next destination.

Another option would be to anchor the dive-flag, and then run a reel from the flag. At the end of your dive, follow the reel back to your flag, and then surface.

edit: Someone else posted an example regulation of being within a certain distance of the dive-flag. That kind of regulation makes more sense. You shouldn't have to ever "tow" a dive-flag, unless you intend to move a good distance from your entry-point. Even then, if you feel you can find your way back to being within that distance, I'd just anchor it, and then return to the general area at the end of your dive. If you're deeper than 30ft, bubbles are generally not visible on the surface.

 

[tbone1004]

Are you positively certain it won't break under duress?

it obviously will but how much stress does it need to endure and is that stress so much that you were going to be pulled to a dangerous position with it? Relying on something that is designed to break under stress for this application is not wise, you need something that can be triggered by you or you may as well just plan to cut it.

 

[tursiops]

So my solution is the safety snap.

Sir, with all due respect, your solution sucks.

 

[scubadada]

A friend in Florida sometimes uses this when he is carrying a flag and using his large camera rig. The float line is connected to the neck of the cylinder with a carabiner though the ring. The reel is attached to the float and is kept out of the way during the dive. The flag is connected to the reel normally. He tells me the connection of the reel to the float is a weak link and would break if the flag was snagged by a boat. He uses this rig very smoothly.

 

[johndiver999]

That rig above is not a good idea. Putting a metal to metal connection on your tank, behind your head where you can't reach it is unnecessarily dangerous, although I expect it is convenient in open water ... and that carabiner is also hazardous in that it can self clip to stuff, wires, cord.

It also would preclude a diver from safely ducking in under a reef or into a wreck....It would be PARTICULARLY stupid if someone were spearfishing while using a line on their gun.

Also would not work well in strong currents if you wanted your float to remain on the surface.

 

[Simon B.]

A friend in Florida sometimes uses this when he is carrying a flag and using his large camera rig

This is interesting, although I'm curious about how your friend operates this rig. It seems like the short yellow line is to keep the reel and breakaway up and out of the way. Does your friend turn and haul down the yellow line to access the reel so he can change depth? Or because he's carrying a camera he is mostly stationary and doesn't need to adjust the reel often?

 

[John C. Ratliff]

I would suggest a look of surgical tubing that can be used to secure the reel/line holder to your wrist when doing other things.

I use a line to a buoy with a dive flag on it all the time. It’s my concession to age (76) and the fact that I dive mostly solo. If you want to see me using this system, I suggest you watching my entire video, “Lampreys Spawning, Two Dives.” At 23 minutes and 30 seconds, it also shows me cutting myself free from monofilament fishing line.


SeaRat