in Texas the jet skis use the flags as racing buoys. sometimes they will get a whole slalom course if you have your buddy carry one.
Dive Flag Awareness?
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dsdiving
Registered
I too only fly a flag when I'm certain it's safe to do so. I've had my Dive Flag ripped from by a boat speeding by. Luckily, with a little of preparedness, I had the flag attached with a weak link(a hair scrunchie that I borrowed from my little girl) so that I wasn't pulled from 72' to the surface.
Here in British Columbia this was becoming such a major issue that just this year there is a new law that ALL boat operators must hold a recognized certification but this took 15 years to take full effect. There is no quick solution I realize but 15 years-COME ON!.
Although things are better than they were you still find the odd idiot on the water. I hate to be the one to say it but many of them are tourists from the U.S. (Maybe the U.S. has the same problem with the odd Canuck- I dunno.) In the Summer the Okanagan Lake becomes such a magnet for tourist (U.S. and Canucks alike) who really have no business being on the water. I think that overall level of knowledge and certification needs to be higher. Universally- any law is only as good as its Enforcement! If the Authorities are unwilling or unable ( lack of manpower) to enforce these Laws then this is as good as it gets. This leave us with Educating the public.
Here in British Columbia this was becoming such a major issue that just this year there is a new law that ALL boat operators must hold a recognized certification but this took 15 years to take full effect. There is no quick solution I realize but 15 years-COME ON!.
Although things are better than they were you still find the odd idiot on the water. I hate to be the one to say it but many of them are tourists from the U.S. (Maybe the U.S. has the same problem with the odd Canuck- I dunno.) In the Summer the Okanagan Lake becomes such a magnet for tourist (U.S. and Canucks alike) who really have no business being on the water. I think that overall level of knowledge and certification needs to be higher. Universally- any law is only as good as its Enforcement! If the Authorities are unwilling or unable ( lack of manpower) to enforce these Laws then this is as good as it gets. This leave us with Educating the public.
Bonesnews
Registered
Here in Nova Scotia you must take a safe boaters course, to obtain a licence to operate a boat no matter what size it is. I am pretty sure also that you as a new operator, are made aware of what a divers flag is there to represent. Someone also told me, who is an avid boater, that if you don't stay 100 ft away from the flag you can recieve a large fine and possibly loose your boat if the infraction is too severe. I personally think that if someone wants to be an idiot, they should have their boat confiscated and they should have to pay a $1000.00 fine and retake the course if they want their boat back.
Universally- any law is only as good as its Enforcement! If the auhorities are unwilling or unable ( lack of manpower) to enforce these Laws then this is as good as it gets.
DSDIVING
I absolutely agree. I have yet to see the local lake patrol ever get on someone for the lack of awareness of "The Flag". Yet they are sure to point out that we must fly one.
DSDIVING
I absolutely agree. I have yet to see the local lake patrol ever get on someone for the lack of awareness of "The Flag". Yet they are sure to point out that we must fly one.
CCTX50
Contributor
Here is the Texas Law on dive flags.
§ 31.1021. OPERATING VESSELS IN SCUBA DIVING OR SNORKELING AREAS.
a) No person may operate a vessel within 50 feet of a buoy or of another vessel displaying a "diver down" flag that marks an area in which a person is scuba diving or snorkeling.
(b) No person may operate a vessel at a speed greater than the minimum speed necessary to maintain steerageway and headway while the vessel is within 150 feet of a buoy or a vessel displaying a "diver down" flag that marks an area in which a person is scuba diving or snorkeling.
(c) To be entitled to the protections of this section, a scuba diver or snorkeler must prominently display a "diver down" flag from a buoy or vessel.
(d) This section does not apply:
(1) to a person who is operating a patrol or rescue craft; or
(2) in an emergency.
(e) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply:
(1) to a person who is already operating a vessel in an area when another person displays a "diver down" flag within 150 feet of that vessel;
(2) to a person who is operating a vessel in a waterway that is less than 300 feet wide; or
(3) to a person who has permission to enter the area from the person who placed the buoy or the person who is operating the vessel displaying the "diver down" flag.
(f) In this section, "'diver down' flag" means a square or rectangular red flag, at least 15 inches by 15 inches, that has a diagonal white stripe.
In some places Texas Game Wardens will actually give the diver a citation if diving without displaying proper dive flag. Canyon Lake is one place I have heard of citations being issued to divers.
§ 31.1021. OPERATING VESSELS IN SCUBA DIVING OR SNORKELING AREAS.
a) No person may operate a vessel within 50 feet of a buoy or of another vessel displaying a "diver down" flag that marks an area in which a person is scuba diving or snorkeling.
(b) No person may operate a vessel at a speed greater than the minimum speed necessary to maintain steerageway and headway while the vessel is within 150 feet of a buoy or a vessel displaying a "diver down" flag that marks an area in which a person is scuba diving or snorkeling.
(c) To be entitled to the protections of this section, a scuba diver or snorkeler must prominently display a "diver down" flag from a buoy or vessel.
(d) This section does not apply:
(1) to a person who is operating a patrol or rescue craft; or
(2) in an emergency.
(e) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply:
(1) to a person who is already operating a vessel in an area when another person displays a "diver down" flag within 150 feet of that vessel;
(2) to a person who is operating a vessel in a waterway that is less than 300 feet wide; or
(3) to a person who has permission to enter the area from the person who placed the buoy or the person who is operating the vessel displaying the "diver down" flag.
(f) In this section, "'diver down' flag" means a square or rectangular red flag, at least 15 inches by 15 inches, that has a diagonal white stripe.
In some places Texas Game Wardens will actually give the diver a citation if diving without displaying proper dive flag. Canyon Lake is one place I have heard of citations being issued to divers.
CCTX50
Contributor
Yes, boaters have received tickets for violating the safety zone. I have seen several get tickets at Canyon Lake and also Lake Travis. At Canyon Lake divers were complaining a lot about the boaters so they started getting tickets. Then the boaters started complaining about divers not using flags so the Game Wardens are issuing to both sides. "Just to keep it fair" they say.
Skier-Diver
Registered
Here in TN you don't have to have any kind of license to drive a boat, just be at least 12 years old, just like in AZ. I had heard they were going to start requiring people to have taken a certified training course if they were born after a certain date, but I don't know if it ever passed or not. I sold my boat and jet ski so I no longer keep up with the laws.
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