A flag that is less of a drag?

[tarponchik]

Actually, the Florida law does not require you to drag the flag all the time: "Divers must display the flag and remain within 100 feet of it while diving in rivers, inlets and navigation channels. The distance is 300 feet in other waters." So, shore diving at, say, LBTS or Dania Beach, you can spend your whole dive hanging around your flag anchored at the bottom.

 

[Nick Steele]

LOL ok the flag is all you next time ;-)

I was talking about freediving but I’ll give it a go haha

 

[Sam Miller III]

They used not to be and I was glad when they changed it. I use top shaped float when I can...
(Quote)
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Note the size of your flag and the size of the white diagonal stripe
It appears to be the official correct in size , portions and colors

SDM

​

 

[The Chairman]

Note the size of your flag and the size of the white diagonal stripe
It appears to be the official correct in size , portions and colors

Sam, FWC has minimums allowed for dive flags.

The minimum size for any divers-down flag displayed on a buoy or float towed by the diver is 12 inches by 12 inches. The minimum size for any divers-down flag displayed from a vessel or structure is 20 inches by 24 inches.

 

[drbill]

In my 60 plus years of expert witnessing (I sound like dr bill!)

Ha, no one in their right mind would call me an expert witness on anything dive-related, although possibly re: marine life. But then, a number of lawyers I've met over the years are not in their right minds (nor are their clients!)

 

[Schwob]

Dyneema or AmSteel or Spectra line (some sort of UHMWPE, edit: based on specific gravity that ought to be ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, NOT polyester) is incredibly strong and good with abrasion, bareley stretches (not important for towing a flag) and should have a specific density of 0.98 (= floats, which (and cost) is probably why cave and wreck divers don't use it). It also is not the best with knots, but it's workable. Some can be spliced.
All to just say, a thinner, (less drag) strong line still can float... not sure how thin it is available.

West Marine has it in 7/64", that's not totally out of line (pun intended), but quite hefty for the job. Heftier yet is the price at 39 cents a foot.

I think I might give my camping line supplier a try. Great lines. Lawson makes good stuff. The assortment changes over a bit fast at times, but great lines. Not cheap either, but their bear-line is simply great! Certainly beats heavier line for the purpose. Anyway, for just towing a flag their stat line looks very promising and more affordable than the stuff with a mantle around it. If they also had a non floaty version of it (neat trick with UHMWPE) I might try it on my regular reel (but it'd be weird and maybe bad to look for your exit line on the ceiling... and I don't really wreck penetrate deeply just yet and got ways to go prior to try cave). Anyway, this might be interesting as a floating line for towing a flag with a floating line (have not tried yet, just used my normal small reel - and can see I might like a floating line better for the purpose):
Statline- 1.75mm

 

[scubadada]

I use this flag and float from SLIC. It has a 14x16 inch flag, PVC buoy float, and a flag tie down and towing harness. I use a Manta Jr reel, I find it more resistant to fouling, though not impossible, and easier to use, compared to a free spinning reel. I have about 300 feet of the Dive Gear Express Hi-Vis Dacron line on the reel. It is said to be stronger than #36 line but thinner than #24 line. The reel initially came with 250 feet of #24 line that I used until I got it irretrievably tangled.

 

[Schwob]

I use this flag and float from SLIC. It has a 14x16 inch flag, PVC buoy float, and a flag tie down and towing harness. I use a Manta Jr reel, I find it more resistant to fouling, though not impossible, and easier to use, compared to a free spinning reel. I have about 300 feet of the Dive Gear Express Hi-Vis Dacron line on the reel. It is said to be stronger than #36 line but thinner than #24 line. The reel initially came with 250 feet of #24 line that I used until I got it irretrievably tangled.
View attachment 471880 View attachment 471881 View attachment 471882

Dacron (Polyester), makes a great line that is quite heavier than water (SG of 1.38 or so)... for where that is wanted (e.g in a wreck line) if someone were to prefer a floating line for a flag line, Dacron would not be it.
Gleistein - Technical properties of synthetic fibres

 

[scubadada]

Dacron (Polyester), makes a great line that is quite geavier than water (SG of 1.38 or so)... for where that is wanted (e.g in a wreck line) if someone were to prefer a floating line for a flag line, Dacron would not be it.
Gleistein - Technical properties of synthetic fibres

I've never felt the need for floating line. If there is no current, line hangs vertically from the flag. If there is current, line is held taut by the pull of the current. I have had the need for quite a bit of line when the current is really ripping .

 

[lowviz]

I've never felt the need for floating line. If there is no current, line hangs vertically from the flag. ...//...

Yeah, it really does hang down from the flag. Usually in a pile around me. You must be a lot better at dressing the line in slack water...

I'm pretty sure my problems revolve around the fact that I absolutely detest that !@#$%^& thing...