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

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

Yes they can. Jet skis included. I have seen people with large yachts 60-70 ft that can't run them. Hang out at a marina or your local launch ramp. Walmart people have boats too!
 
I know it can get ugly so best to be proactive. This could work better (Banks Board) but looks bulky and is a bit expensive, $250ish..but you can't expect every diver to have something like this(especially if not spearfishing).

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kZpyPnUOvYI/maxresdefault.jpg
I had a friend years ago who had an inflatable kayak. used to go out all the time off shore. Problem was boaters saw the empty kayak (with flag!) and assume it was abandoned and tried to take it.. meanwhile he was attached to it 30ft below!

When my son was visiting in Florida, he rented a boat and went out. Now, he is an experienced boater, but are there any rules regarding this? Can anyone with a credit card rent a boat and go careening through the waters?
To the best of my knowledge if you got the $$, you can own/drive a boat. No license or knowledge required..
Story goes that some guy who never owned/drived a boat before bought a new one at the Miami Boat show. Took it out upon payment that day and promptly crashed it when trying to dock. Didn't know it didn't have brakes..
 
My favorite is when some of these boat owners forget to take off the tie down straps that secure the boat to the trailer. They have a 2 wheel drive and when they back the boat into the water the boat and float which will pull the back wheels of the truck off the ground and they won't have any traction. Then they are stranded and can't take their foot off the brake or the truck will get pulled into the water. Some of them aren't smart enough to know this and just roll right into the water. Sometimes the lanch ramp is slick and the front tires just slide down the ramp and both truck and trailer end up in the water. There are hundreds of Youtube videos of this. It's hilarious!!
At least there is one less potential idiot out there buzzing our dive flags.
 
I have to admit, this is a bit disconcerting. As I started reading the thread, one thought that occurred to me is that 'thoughtless' boaters probably haven't been exposed to concepts such as dive flags, because they haven't bothered to take any boating safety training (the 'I don't need no stinkin' training' mindset). But, it appears that may not be a solution after all.

Was this a USCG course? Or, do private contractors offer courses that can then be used to meet local regulation? It would seem that a USCG course would include emphasis on things such as dive flags. But, I may be assuming too much.


The sailing course was ASA sponsored course, I checked the book I got with the course and it has one page about flags and a couple sentences about a dive flag, including the international flag, and how far to stat away. We spent a lot more time discussing charts and no sail zones due to the navy prescence in the Chesapeake, along with the naval academy in Annapolis. Dive flags, not a concern.

Unfortunately, the dive community is looking out for other divers, most weekend boaters are clueless.

I do not dive locally, but I feel sorry for anyone diving in the Chesapeake, too much boat and commercial traffic, plus the cold brackish water.

Mike
 
To the best of my knowledge if you got the $$, you can own/drive a boat. No license or knowledge required..

Don't believe this is right, at least for those born after 1987. According to FWC:

I was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, and want to operate a boat in Florida. Do I need a license?

In order to operate a motorboat of ten (10) horsepower or greater, Florida law requires anyone who was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 to successfully complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a Boating Safety Education Identification Card issued by the FWC.

Boating Safety Education FAQs


There's a free course at boatus.org but I took this years ago and can't recall what, if anything, is in there about regulations concerning diver down flags. See:

Florida State Boating Course
 
That's odd. Is 1988 some arbitrary product of new legislation - or is it being under/ over the age of around 28 that instigates the safety course requirement?

Man, I just realized you could have been born in 1988 and be 28 years old! I like, remember 1988 and stuff ... Feeling old...
 
Hmmm... hopefully one could get the hull number. Then there's a whole bevy of defenses available that could be very convincing - and motivating - to the boater to be more careful and respectful of divers.
How 'bout this one, once you've tracked 'em down. "Hey bud, How's about letting me treat you to a free 'try SCUBA' experience. Bet you'd like it :)"
Rick
 
In Alabama one must have a "V" (Vessel) endorsement on their driver's license. When they first passed the law, folks my age (I think born before 1950) were grandfathered in & automatically got the endorsement, as we'd been driving boats for years (perhaps the FL law is new & 1988 is the "grandfathered in" date) Now one must pass a test & pay a fee, or take a certified course & pay the fee.
Here's an oddity... a non-resident 14 or older can operate a vessel in Alabama up to 45 days a year without any license at all! Weird, eh?
Rick
 
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
Good idea! I've got a printer, laminator, and a whole bunch of ink, paper, and empty 8.5x11 lamination sheets... off to work!

Hmm on second thought.. I'd really like to find one that's more specific to florida; perhaps listing the statute. I got the bright idea to look it up and make my own. I was REALLY disappointed when I came to the penalties for driving over a dive flag.

It's a "noncriminal infraction"
1. For a first offense, $50.
2. For a second offense occurring within 12 months after a prior conviction, $250.
3. For a third offense occurring within 36 months after a prior conviction, $500.
4. For a fourth or subsequent offense occurring within 72 months after a prior conviction, $1,000.


No wonder they don't care. Even if they do know, it's just $50. Pocket change for most boat owners.
 
Last edited:
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/
https://xf2.scubaboard.com/community/forums/cave-diving.45/

Back
Top Bottom