HAWAII's DIVE FLAG RULES (stated)

[VBlueV]

taken from: Hawaii Dive Flags ..

According to Hawaii law:
Hawaii's amendments Ž§13-245-9:
Amendments to HAR Chapters 13-240, 13-243, 13-245 and 13-256
For Boaters in Hawaii:

(f) All vessels shall be prohibited from approaching within one hundred feet of a displayed diver's flag or within fifty feet of a displayed diver's flag on navigable streams, except within marked navigation channels. Vessels approaching a displayed diver's flag to conduct SCUBA, snorkeling, or free diving activities within the one hundred foot or fifty foot restricted area shall be allowed to do so provided that the vessel approaches at a speed of slow-no-wake.

(g) Vessels navigating through marked navigation channels are exempt from the distance restriction described in subsection (f) but shall proceed at a speed of slow-no-wake through the navigation channel when a diver's flag is displayed adjacent to the navigation channel.


According to Hawaii law:
Hawaii's amendments Ž§13-245-9:
Amendments to HAR Chapters 13-240, 13-243, 13-245 and 13-256
For Divers in Hawaii:

(a) A "diver's flag" as defined by rule and measuring not less than twelve inches by twelve inches shall be required to be displayed on the surface of the water by any person or group of persons engaged in free diving or SCUBA diving.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a diver's flag measuring not less than twelve inches by twelve inches, shall be displayed on the highest point of the main structure of a non-motorized vessel that is sixteen feet or less in length overall in order to provide unobstructed view of the diver's flag from all directions when diving from the vessel.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a), in addition to the "Alpha flag" required by the United States Coast Guard, i.e., a blue flag with a white horizontal strip running from the upper left side to the lower left side, a diver's flag measuring not less than twenty inches by twenty-four inches, shall be displayed on the highest point of the main structure of any motorized or non-motorized vessel that is greater than sixteen feet in length overall in order to provide unobstructed view of the diver's flag from all directions when diving from the vessel.

(d) No person shall engage in free diving or SCUBA diving, or display a diver's flag, in a manner that shall unreasonably or unnecessarily interfere with vessels or with free and proper navigation of the waterways of the State.

(e) Except in cases of emergencies, free diving, swimming, or SCUBA diving within navigation channels shall be prohibited.

[...]

(h) The diver's flag shall be displayed only when free diving or SCUBA diving is in progress, and its display in a water area when no diving is in progress in that area shall constitute a violation of these rules.

(i) There shall be no subsurface distance restrictions from a dive flag, however, except in cases of emergencies, free divers or SCUBA divers shall be prohibited from surfacing more than one hundred feet away from the diver's flag in the ocean waters of the State and fifty feet in navigable streams.

(j) Authorized representatives of the department and life saving personnel are exempt from the distance restrictions of subsection (f) when performing functions related to their duties.

(k) Anyone violating any provision of this section shall be subject to fines and penalties as provided in sections 200-14, 200-14.5, and 200-25, HRS. [Eff 2/24/94 am July 5, 2003] (Auth: HRS Ž§Ž§200-2, 200-3, 200-4, 200-10, 200-14, 200-14.5, 200-24, 200-25) (Imp: HRS Ž§Ž§200-2, 200-3, 200-4, 200-10, 200-14, 200-14.5, 200-24, 200-25)

boater AND diver here.
of note.. dive flag rules differ slightly from state to state..
in HAWAII.. the dive flag buffer zone is only 100 feet (approx 33 yards).

also note.. a boat may enter this 100 foot buffer at "slow-no-wake".
('attended three boater safety courses.. instructors stated..
"slow-no-wake" is approx 5 knots)

 

[hamrhed42]

Noted

Thanks for the post

 

[scubadrewvideo]

Too bad there is no rule about looking overboard before dropping anchor. Too many close calls at Kahe pt.

 

[DiveWestOahu]

no kidding drew,,,, you'd think they could at least see the bubbles or look a little better for them knowing divers are in the area,, i almost got hit by the old atlantis dive boat in waikiki, and that anchor weights like 50lbs,,,, i don't know how the line misteriously got cut on the reef,,,, was also at kahe one day and had 3 guys on jet skis doing donuts around the flag

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

VBlueV: Thanks for posting this!

This part was news to me:

"There shall be no subsurface distance restrictions from a dive flag, however, except in cases of emergencies, free divers or SCUBA divers shall be prohibited from surfacing more than one hundred feet away from the diver's flag in the ocean waters of the State and fifty feet in navigable streams."

For some reason I thought the diver had to remain with 100' during the dive, and surface within 50' (I'd always ignored these rules anyway and just anchored the flag in the general area I would spend most of the dive, then surface as close as possible to it at the end of the dive).

Best wishes.

 

[VBlueV]

yeah.. one of the laws that's actually practical and makes sense.

Makaha is a good case-in-point..
the Life-Guards always ensure we depart from the beach with a dive flag.
tho' we end up anchoring it just past the orange-buoy in the middle of the bay..
then kick underwater (past the big turtle cleaning station) and on thru to the caverns.

'have too seen folks drag their dive-flags along their entire dives..
'must go thru a lot of extra air.
better safe.. suppose.