I had my first experience trying to drag a dive flag (required by shop supposedly for safety .. I tried to argue that my DSMB was sufficient notice I could deploy when surfacing but got overruled and it is their shop so their rules). My hands are already busy (full DSLR system, sidemount reg switches at least a few times) so holding the flag as suggested by the rental shop was not a great option. I was also hesitant to clip it to my harness for safety reasons, in case a boater or jet ski decided it would be fun to take a run at the flag (it happens, I have seen this behavior). I think what I should do next time is create a leash with paracord I can attach to the handle of the flag spool, and then attached the leash to my harness some something that will break away easily (zip tie?) if a boater snags the flag. Thoughts?
Initial impressions, having not read the remainder of the thread yet.
This seems super-weird to me. How or why is the dive-shop dictating how you dive? Is this a class or dive-charter? This is a safety-hazard. You mentioned the boats playing bowling with your dive-flag of course. However, it's also a massive entanglement hazard. Worse if multiple divers are dragging around these flags.
My choices:
- Find another dive-shop
- Pretend to comply
- If it's a legal requirement see below
If you're legally required to tow one (dumb IMO, but regardless), there are no scuba-police, but always the possibility of being arrested on the surface. Put a weight/anchor on the bottom of the line of the dive-flag. Pull the cord by hand, and when you are remaining in an area, let go of the flag, swim around, then grab the flag as you move to the next destination.
Another option would be to anchor the dive-flag, and then run a reel from the flag. At the end of your dive, follow the reel back to your flag, and then surface.
edit: Someone else posted an example regulation of being within a certain distance of the dive-flag. That kind of regulation makes more sense. You shouldn't have to ever "tow" a dive-flag, unless you intend to move a good distance from your entry-point. Even then, if you feel you can find your way back to being within that distance, I'd just anchor it, and then return to the general area at the end of your dive. If you're deeper than 30ft, bubbles are generally not visible on the surface.