Poll - Dive Flag - Sausage

[Chris12day]

I would love to see a poll question on the number of divers who actually use a diver-down flag and float or a safety sausage - dive bag.

You tell me.....Thanks

[irishsquid]

I would love to see a poll question on the number of divers who actually use a diver-down flag and float or a safety sausage - dive bag.

You tell me.....Thanks

I've only used my float/flag on a few occasions. In the river, on the lake, and at the jetties in Panama City.

[Chugwhump]

I pretty much always pull a flag when diving.
Always on shore dives, and almost always on private boat dives.
I will on occaision forego the flag if there are very calm seas and the guy driving the boat wants to just use his trolling motor and follow my bubble stream on shallower dives.
There will be a flag flying on the boat then obviously.
Chug
(Flies his dive freak flag)

[ScubaSteve]

Half my dives have a diver down flag (most anchored, some towed), all my dives have a SS on me and almost all have an SMB as well.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Most of the time I avoid towing a DD flag or I park it if it is required. I always carry a SMB on a spool for unexpected ascents.

Certain areas with high boat traffic are exceptions or lobster boats. Also, lakes (fresh water boaters and jet ski operators are idiots.) Then I pull the float due to the increased risk.

[jupitermermaid]

If I'm on a boat the DM carries a float flag, and I'll employ a safety sausage while I'm ascending for personal use. When I shore dive I carry a float flag.

[imwright1985]

Tube for Emergencies, float flag and boat on drift, boat for anchor, and float flag on shore

[knotical]

Have used all of the above, although not all to signal that I'm diving. I voted for the three that actually related to the purpose. Used them in the following order of frequency: boat, nothing, flag.

[Rick Inman]

Nothing. In our waters dive flags, etc are a hazard. They attract ignorant boaters and jet skiers and create an overhead environment. I've even gotten into a tug-of-war at 80' with a boater over the safety sausage I sent up. If you want to bring hazards above you on a dive, just shoot a bag or haul a flag.

No thanks.

Of course, we do fly a flag off the boat, not that anyone knows what it is.

[HowardE]

In Florida its the law. Tow a flag, or be within the "safe radius" of the dive boat which is flying the dive flag.

[budgy]

I used to dive solo a lot near a pier at place called Portencross and fly a blue diver down flag from the shore until I lost 3 of them. 2 were stolen, maybe Rangers F.C. supporters, the other was thrown in the sea, most probably Celtic.:shakehead: I tried a float after a near close encounter with an inshore trawler. I discarded the idea after being fly hooked by bored anglers using it as a target. What I really want is a buddy on shore with a deer rifle.

[TMHeimer]

I use a flag where required by law and where there are many boats, etc.-often the same places. I try to park it when possible or practical. Most of the shore dives here in N.S. have little or no boat traffic and no one to speak of has a seadoo, so I never use it here.

[ScubaInChicago]

I'm another user of all, It all depends on the dive but will usually carry at least one of the above for one dive or another, or nothing at all....

[fdog]

I will only tow a target if required by law.



All the best, James

[Mopar]

That is the good thing about the quarries. Do not need the flag float and I can work on deploying my SMB.

[mikemill]

Only time I tow anything is when I need the the float to hold something. Otherwise I don't use anything. I carry an SMB and spool with me and use it if needed (which is really rare). I'd be annoyed to all hell if I had to tow a flag.

[AndrewA]

I use whatever local regulations require. Normally that will be an International A flag on the dive boat. Sometimes on a drift dive I will tow a SMB.

[dsdiving]

I'll fly a flag whenever I can safely do so.

[FrogManMike]

at this point I am pretty much a shore entry diver only
due to my disability I tow a inner-tube with a DD flag attached. the tube doubles as gear caddy so I can tug it out from shore to a little over waist deep depths then I put on my gear because I have to use a cane and I cannot walk with fins and My BC and tank from shore.
I have actually noticed since I started diving again several people have adopted my method of entering the water with their gear:crafty:
I also have a TommyD Dive marker for snorkling because it is a requirement.

if I were to do off shore dives I would use a sausage for ascents.