Float laws?

[BioLogic]

Hi folks,

Sorry to make a pest of myself, but I've another question regarding our upcoming trip, where we may be doing some shore diving on the Florida panhandle coast.

What regulations or 'just do it because you should' rules apply to diving the jetties you all speak of? Do we need one, do we need to tow it always or is it ok to anchor it and stay close (we do photography), does using such a float bring up special issues that those unused to them should be aware of?

Thanks for your time,

Jeanne

 

[Walter]

My search found this:

The size of divers-down flags displayed on vessels must be at least 20 inches by 24 inches, and a stiffener is required to keep the flag unfurled. Dive flags carried on floats must be at least 12 inches by 12 inches. Also, divers-down flags on vessels must be displayed above the vessel's highest point so that the flag's visibility is not obstructed in any direction.

Divers must make reasonable efforts to stay within 300 feet of a divers-down flag on open waters (all waterways other than rivers, inlets, or navigation channels) and within 100 feet of a flag within rivers, inlets, or navigation channels.

Vessel operators must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from divers-down flags on open waters and at least 100 feet from flags on rivers, inlets or navigation channels. Vessels approaching divers-down flags closer than 300 feet in open water and 100 feet in rivers, inlets and navigation channels must slow to idle speed.

When divers are out of the water, a dive flag may not be displayed.

 

[Hetland]

The safest thing to do, and what is required by law, is tow your flag. It's best to have a non-photographer in your group that tows the flag, or otherwise, take turns. Do NOT attach your flag line to your person or BC. If a boat gets entangled, you will be doing a rapid ascent, getting free ski lessons, and if you are very, very lucky, you'll just need to spend a few days in a decompression chamber. There have even been two incidents over the last 2-3 years where people intentionally pull dive flags (and the divers attached) to the surface. One was a security guard, the other was a fisherman. If you tow your flag, just keep the reel or spool in your hand. If things get nasty, you can let go.

 

[mrmccoy]

I would think if you tied the float off half way down the jetty on any of the jetty dives you should be within the 300ft range.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Depends on the jetties.

Some of us are endowed with longer jetties than others.

 

[Hetland]

I would think if you tied the float off half way down the jetty on any of the jetty dives you should be within the 300ft range.

Often that is what happens. You can get away with it in these parts (most of the time) because you are 30-70 feet underwater and you don't have to worry about being keel-hauled. The danger is when some guy decides to drop his anchor on your head. I've never had an anchor hit me, but if it's half as bad as a steel 100, then I vote "no" to trying it out.

In places like Ft. Lauderdale you don't tie your flag to anything. I think they aim for flags over there. We had a strobe attached to a flag for a night dive, and some nut ran right over us at high speed... Things were not much better in daylight.

 

[DennisS]

In places like Ft. Lauderdale you don't tie your flag to anything. I think they aim for flags over there. We had a strobe attached to a flag for a night dive, and some nut ran right over us at high speed... Things were not much better in daylight.

They run over boats full of people in broad daylight at high speed, don't expect too much protection from a dive flag

 

[NAUIwowee]

You will need to have one with you. I have been caught twice by Florida Marine Patrol without one. Once while freediving the channel side of St. Andrews and once while scuba diving the Destin jetties. Luckily, both times they let me go with a warning; but, I decided I was not going to press my luck for a third time. I now tow one behind me while shore diving. They are a pain, and I wish I didn't have to, but I guess there is a good reason for it.

One thing to watch out for is fishermen on the jetties. While on the bottom at 40' along the St. Andrews jetties, a fisherman reeled in his lure right across my float line and caught it about ten feet below the surface. He started pulling from his side and I was pulling back from my side. A nautical tug of war! He finally pulled hard enough that his line broke. After surfacing, I went out on the rocks to find him/her to return their lure, but another fisherman told me he saw our little struggle and after the line broke my opponent packed his stuff and left.

 

[mrmccoy]

Often that is what happens. You can get away with it in these parts (most of the time) because you are 30-70 feet underwater and you don't have to worry about being keel-hauled. The danger is when some guy decides to drop his anchor on your head. I've never had an anchor hit me, but if it's half as bad as a steel 100, then I vote "no" to trying it out.

In places like Ft. Lauderdale you don't tie your flag to anything. I think they aim for flags over there. We had a strobe attached to a flag for a night dive, and some nut ran right over us at high speed... Things were not much better in daylight.

A steel 100 on the head........was that under water?

 

[NAUIwowee]

I have had an anchor dropped on me and I had an entire dive boat above me with dive flags a flappin'!
I was acting as AI for an OW class in Panama City. We were out on one of PCDC's boats, anchored over the Bart. I had the students together on the roof of the wheelhouse, preparing to make our ascent, when I'm suddenly struck in the back of my tank by a Dansforth anchor that managed to find me after dropping 60' from the surface. After hitting my tank, it slid down on to the back of my legs and dragged me down onto the wheelhouse roof. I managed to get out from under it and watched as it bounced along the top of the wheelhouse between the students and then over the side. Some doofus had pulled up in a fishing boat, maybe fifty feet from the dive boat, and just tossed his anchor over! I was tempted to take the anchor and drag it into one of the Barts holds where he would never retrieve it; but just then, one of the students signaled low on air, so I escorted them up the line. This just shows that dive flags, while required and a good idea, are not foolproof. Especially when the fool in the other boat has no idea what one means!