burnsfamily382
Guest
does it need to be an actual flag? i have a surface marker buoy (bright orange safety sausage) with no wording on it, will that be ok?
Joe
Joe
June 2cnd Venice Beach Meet and Greet Dive 9:00 am
- Thread starter Divergirl4U
- Start date
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http://myfwc.com/boating/safety/diving_flag.htm
327.331 Divers; definitions; divers-down flag required; obstruction to navigation of certain waters; penalty.--
(1) As used in this section: (a) "Diver" means any person who is wholly or partially submerged in the waters of the state and is equipped with a face mask and snorkel or underwater breathing apparatus.
(b) "Underwater breathing apparatus" means any apparatus, whether self-contained or connected to a distant source of air or other gas, whereby a person wholly or partially submerged in water is enabled to obtain or reuse air or any other gas or gases for breathing without returning to the surface of the water.
(c) "Divers-down flag" means a flag that meets the following specifications:
1. The flag must be square or rectangular. If rectangular, the length must not be less than the height, or more than 25 percent longer than the height. The flag must have a wire or other stiffener to hold it fully unfurled and extended in the absence of a wind or breeze.
2. The flag must be red with a white diagonal stripe that begins at the top staff-side of the flag and extends diagonally to the lower opposite corner. The width of the stripe must be 25 percent of the height of the flag.
3. The minimum size for any divers-down flag displayed on a buoy or float towed by the diver is 12 inches by 12 inches. The minimum size for any divers-down flag displayed from a vessel or structure is 20 inches by 24 inches.
4. Any divers-down flag displayed from a vessel must be displayed from the highest point of the vessel or such other location which provides that the visibility of the divers-down flag is not obstructed in any direction.
(2) All divers must prominently display a divers-down flag in the area in which the diving occurs, other than when diving in an area customarily used for swimming only.
(3) No diver or group of divers shall display one or more divers-down flags on a river, inlet, or navigation channel, except in case of emergency, in a manner which shall unreasonably constitute a navigational hazard.
(4) Divers shall make reasonable efforts to stay within 100 feet of the divers-down flag on rivers, inlets, and navigation channels. Any person operating a vessel on a river, inlet, or navigation channel must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 100 feet from any divers-down flag.
(5) Divers must make reasonable efforts to stay within 300 feet of the divers-down flag on all waters other than rivers, inlets, and navigation channels. Any person operating a vessel on waters other than a river, inlet, or navigation channel must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from any divers-down flag.
(6) Any vessel other than a law enforcement or rescue vessel that approaches within 100 feet of a divers-down flag on a river, inlet, or navigation channel, or within 300 feet of a divers-down flag on waters other than a river, inlet, or navigation channel, must proceed no faster than is necessary to maintain headway and steerageway.
(7) The divers-down flag must be lowered once all divers are aboard or ashore. No person may operate any vessel displaying a divers-down flag unless the vessel has one or more divers in the water.
1(8) Any willful violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor of the second degree punishable as provided by s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.--ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 74-344; s. 64, ch. 74-383; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 1, ch. 86-35; ss. 7, 8, ch. 2000-362.
1Note.--Section 8, ch. 2000-362, amended subsection (8), effective October 1, 2001, to read:
(8) Except as provided in s. 327.33, any violation of this section shall be a noncriminal infraction punishable as provided in s. 327.73.
Note.--Former s. 861.065.
http://myfwc.com/boating/safety/diving_flag.htm
327.331 Divers; definitions; divers-down flag required; obstruction to navigation of certain waters; penalty.--
(1) As used in this section: (a) "Diver" means any person who is wholly or partially submerged in the waters of the state and is equipped with a face mask and snorkel or underwater breathing apparatus.
(b) "Underwater breathing apparatus" means any apparatus, whether self-contained or connected to a distant source of air or other gas, whereby a person wholly or partially submerged in water is enabled to obtain or reuse air or any other gas or gases for breathing without returning to the surface of the water.
(c) "Divers-down flag" means a flag that meets the following specifications:
1. The flag must be square or rectangular. If rectangular, the length must not be less than the height, or more than 25 percent longer than the height. The flag must have a wire or other stiffener to hold it fully unfurled and extended in the absence of a wind or breeze.
2. The flag must be red with a white diagonal stripe that begins at the top staff-side of the flag and extends diagonally to the lower opposite corner. The width of the stripe must be 25 percent of the height of the flag.
3. The minimum size for any divers-down flag displayed on a buoy or float towed by the diver is 12 inches by 12 inches. The minimum size for any divers-down flag displayed from a vessel or structure is 20 inches by 24 inches.
4. Any divers-down flag displayed from a vessel must be displayed from the highest point of the vessel or such other location which provides that the visibility of the divers-down flag is not obstructed in any direction.
(2) All divers must prominently display a divers-down flag in the area in which the diving occurs, other than when diving in an area customarily used for swimming only.
(3) No diver or group of divers shall display one or more divers-down flags on a river, inlet, or navigation channel, except in case of emergency, in a manner which shall unreasonably constitute a navigational hazard.
(4) Divers shall make reasonable efforts to stay within 100 feet of the divers-down flag on rivers, inlets, and navigation channels. Any person operating a vessel on a river, inlet, or navigation channel must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 100 feet from any divers-down flag.
(5) Divers must make reasonable efforts to stay within 300 feet of the divers-down flag on all waters other than rivers, inlets, and navigation channels. Any person operating a vessel on waters other than a river, inlet, or navigation channel must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from any divers-down flag.
(6) Any vessel other than a law enforcement or rescue vessel that approaches within 100 feet of a divers-down flag on a river, inlet, or navigation channel, or within 300 feet of a divers-down flag on waters other than a river, inlet, or navigation channel, must proceed no faster than is necessary to maintain headway and steerageway.
(7) The divers-down flag must be lowered once all divers are aboard or ashore. No person may operate any vessel displaying a divers-down flag unless the vessel has one or more divers in the water.
1(8) Any willful violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor of the second degree punishable as provided by s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.--ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 74-344; s. 64, ch. 74-383; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 1, ch. 86-35; ss. 7, 8, ch. 2000-362.
1Note.--Section 8, ch. 2000-362, amended subsection (8), effective October 1, 2001, to read:
(8) Except as provided in s. 327.33, any violation of this section shall be a noncriminal infraction punishable as provided in s. 327.73.
Note.--Former s. 861.065.
burnsfamily382
Guest
thanks Jenny.
if i read the rules correctly it seems that every diver must have their own flag(?) so i will make a trip to divers direct and get one for next weekend
Joe
if i read the rules correctly it seems that every diver must have their own flag(?) so i will make a trip to divers direct and get one for next weekend
Joe
Although it does not say it, there is a general rule of no more than 6 divers per flag.
OP
Divergirl4U
Contributor
burnsfamily382:
I think one or 2 more will be fine .... when you have large groups they tend to split up. After this weekend omg I have never heard soooooo many boats over my head as I did yesterday ..... even with flags :no
Kim P
You need to be careful at VB even with flags. Many of the boaters seem to think that the flags are targets. Always listen carefully when surfacing. For some reason, boaters seem to absolutely love running on plane on the sandbar.
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Ok, make it 8.
Who was that asking for a ride?
Who was that asking for a ride?
count me in for the dive
OP
Divergirl4U
Contributor
My friend Tammy (new diver) is comming as well but Howard gets to dive with her 
... turning into a large group yeaaaa fun fun
Kim P
... turning into a large group yeaaaa fun funKim P
If coming from the south, take exit 193, if from the north take exit 200. There are directions posted in several threads, do a search and you'll be golden. <edit - I should have looked - Kim has posted directions in the first post of this thread.>
There is no rule written or otherwise about 6 divers/flag. In fact, at Venice, it's usually not a good idea to have more than 2 divers per flag and then only if you have a buddy line. If you aren't buddied with a diver who has a flag, you should have your own.
If you are new to diving, buddy up with a very experienced fossil diver like Jeff or Colin. You'll learn how to actually find teeth and your first time in low viz should be with a mentor. If you are new to diving Venice, follow your mentor's lead, you'll find lots more teeth.
A normal mesh bag is not fine enough for most of your finds. Florida SCUBA West and other dive shops in the area sell a bag with a much finer mesh (like window screen), but in a pinch, a sock works quite nicely.
There is no rule written or otherwise about 6 divers/flag. In fact, at Venice, it's usually not a good idea to have more than 2 divers per flag and then only if you have a buddy line. If you aren't buddied with a diver who has a flag, you should have your own.
If you are new to diving, buddy up with a very experienced fossil diver like Jeff or Colin. You'll learn how to actually find teeth and your first time in low viz should be with a mentor. If you are new to diving Venice, follow your mentor's lead, you'll find lots more teeth.
A normal mesh bag is not fine enough for most of your finds. Florida SCUBA West and other dive shops in the area sell a bag with a much finer mesh (like window screen), but in a pinch, a sock works quite nicely.
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