Dive Flag - What type do you use?

[Wolfie2012]

I've used both. I prefer the foam flag just because it's a simpler design, but for traveling if you don't want to rent a flag, the inner-tube type is much easier to fly with. For those, I'd suggest something similar to the yellow "Diver Down" one because it is more stable in the water than the teardrop style so there's less chance of it flipping and losing the actual "flag" part (yeah that's happened to me too).

 

[texdiveguy]

My dive buddies!!

 

[Lursxt]

Wow! This thread has really taken off! Thanks everyone for their responses! I think I will go with the yellow lobster pot style.

 

[ScubaSarus]

Definitly dont!!!!! use the float with the thin cylinder shaped cheep white foam. I cant count how many times the flag joined us at the bottom for the dive and we had to actually carry the flag with us at the bottom instead of towing it afloat.

 

[Lursxt]

Definitly dont!!!!! use the float with the thin cylinder shaped cheep white foam. I cant count how many times the flag joined us at the bottom for the dive and we had to actually carry the flag with us at the bottom instead of towing it afloat.

So you're saying don't use the yellow lobster pot type, but the one with the cylinder shaped white foam? NorthWoodsDiver stated that the latter was easy to pull under which he did, the foam compressed rendering the float useless. I figured the yellow float would not do that as easily.

 

[OceanObsessed]

So you're saying don't use the yellow lobster pot type, but the one with the cylinder shaped white foam? NorthWoodsDiver stated that the latter was easy to pull under which he did, the foam compressed rendering the float useless. I figured the yellow float would not do that as easily.

I am quite certain that he is saying to not use the thin cylindrical type. I agree. They simply are not buoyant enough. It is easy pull the entire flag under with you. Even a current can pull it underwater. The lobster pot style provides much more buoyancy and stays afloat. Here is a comment that I made in another thread (http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=2893527&postcount=6) about the same thing:

The best ones that I have used are made by slic: http://www.slicdive.com/flags.html . You want a large bouyant float like the slic flags otherwise the flag can get pulled underwater if you are diving in a current.

 

[ScubaSarus]

Actually they seem to get water logged and sink without pulling them. Its the White cylindrical ones.

 

[movementality]

Lursxt,

FWIW, when you get your flag, make sure to get a weighted line winder (or weight it down yourself post-purchase) so it doesn't float away if you're lobstering or happen to lose your grip.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I will add that its a bad idea to tie a long length of rope to you tank valve so you dont have to use a hand to screw with the line. I didn't make that mistake but have a buddy who did and he got all tangled up in like 15 feet of water.

I will include some links here to specify which flags I have just so everything is clear.

here is the big clunky one that got shipped by mistake that I have never used:
http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/CategoryID_976/Context_974/Sort_Stock/DescSort_0/Filter_6%3d533/AQUFFB.html?Hit=1

Here is the yellow one that is way to buoyant to ever be pulled under but can still be poped. I like that it keeps me afloat when I need a rest and makes a great place to keep water bottle/mask/ fins/ etc:
http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/CategoryID_976/Context_974/Sort_Stock/DescSort_0/Filter_6%3d533/AQUFFI.html?Hit=1

and here is the one that I pulled under and got tangled with. Its nice cause is lightweight and breaks down but I have had the flag blow off the post and than entanglement:
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Floating_Dive_Flag_Kit&r=view&i=31682&aID=

I dont know what to tell you that has not been said but I recomend you not use a flag unless absolutly necessary and if so I would go with the inflatable one w/ anchor that way you dont have to deal with the flag. I have thought about trying to turn that yellow one into a foam filled innertube but I dont know how that would work really. that one is also nice cauce is says what it is so if a boat comes close, which they will, than they will know to leave and be careful (or they will steal it).

You could always go outside the box and get something that knowone here recommends just to see what would happen, cause even know every diver is right that dont mean every diver is right Hope this helps ya

 

[pdive]

Made my own marker. Went to New England Marine and Industrial in Gloucester and got a lobster buoy, took one of those yellow drive way markers (Home Depot $2) and threw in some zip ties, hose clamps and duct tape and there you go. I use the hose clamps so I can take the flag pole off if I ever want to use the buoy with a lobster pot. I probably could have gone the whole nine yards and made the flag to but that I bought that at the LDS. I clip on a 2lb dive weight to the bottom to help keep it vertical in the water.

It took a beating at Bass Rocks last year with nary a scratch and was about half the price of the ones you get in the LDS.