It's That Time Of Year Again. Idiot Boaters Don't Know What A Dive Flag Is

[Scuba_Jenny]

How can I express eloquently the thought process I had as I see prop wash from a boat who passed directly overhead of my buddy off Hollywood beach? I was 15 ft away with the flag. A beach dive. My computer said 14fsw.
For those familiar with the area, we were on the Yellow Brick Road, the rockpile portion.

Anger is a good start.

BOATERS!!!!! The dive flag means there is a human being below. STAY AWAY!!!!!!

 

[The Chairman]

We fly our flags because we don't want to look like a manatee!

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

That freaking boat came on us so fast I never heard it coming till it was already past. I honestly was not 15 ft from my buddy and the boat went right over him. If I were surfacing a half minute before, I would of been hit by water displaced by the boat.

 

[gypsyjim]

Idiots and boats do seem to come together

 

[underH2Oman]

I find so many boaters here do not even know what a dive flag is. I print and post signs at marinas and laminated ones at boat launches when I am at them. It is my way of educating boaters.
DEMA has a good one you can download and print at http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.dema.o...ted/DiveFlagAwarenessPoster2013_LegalSize.pdf

 

[tekkydiver]

For every idiot boater, there are at least 10 clueless (and flagless) divers

 

[Coztick]

I print and post signs at marinas and laminated ones at boat launches when I am at them. It is my way of educating boaters.
DEMA has a good one you can download and print at http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.dema.o...ted/DiveFlagAwarenessPoster2013_LegalSize.pdf

Proactive... I love it!
You may have saved someone a world of grief. As divers, maybe we need to try to do more. Talk to boaters, put a face on that flag. Getting angry won't help anyone.
I was at a safety stop in Coz. on a boat dive and an other dive boat idled directly over the DM's DSMB. Un****inbelievable!
EXPECT the worst, look out for you!

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

For every idiot boater, there are at least 10 clueless (and flagless) divers

I don't know where you dive, but down here the majority of divers 1. use a flag, 2. know how dangerous it is out there on the ocean with boaters, 3. think there needs to be something done about it. The only ones who might think otherwise are totally noobs who haven't experienced a near hit.

 

[gypsyjim]

I don't know where you dive, but down here the majority of divers 1. use a flag, 2. know how dangerous it is out there on the ocean with boaters, 3. think there needs to be something done about it. The only ones who might think otherwise are totally noobs who haven't experienced a near hit.

Anyone who does not understand how many idiots own boats needs to spend some time watching the water monkeys at a boat launch.

We've had boaters on lakes where several ops do their training, act like the flags were part of their slalom course.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Here's what I'm thinking. Get those Divers down signs printed on adhesive paper and laminated. Apply onto boat docks and other areas where people will see them. Get a Go Fund Me page to set up resources.
Who's game? We've been complaining about boaters for far too long. Time to do something!