Colorado Dive Flags

[knotical]

The following is specifically applicable to Colorado State Parks. Areas that are not state parks often (usually) refer to the state park regulations.

Scuba divers must display a warning flag when diving. The flag has one diagonal white stripe on a red background and must be identifiable from 100 yards. Place the flag at or near the point of submergence and divers stay within a 100-foot radius of the flag.

Vessels must stay 100 feet from the diver's flag.

If a vessel is engaged in diving operations, it must display the international code flag "A" or Alpha flag. The flag must be at least one meter in height and blue and white in color. The Alpha flag will warn other vessels that the boat is restricted in its ability to maneuver. The boat's Alpha flag is required in addition to the diver's flag.

The above is from: Scuba diving and swimming - Colorado State Parks , and accurately paraphrases regulation 216 in the Colorado State Park 2007 Colorado Boating Statutes and Regulations, which follows:

#216 - SCUBA DIVING
1. Every person in the water, outside a designated swimming area, using an underwater breathing device often known as scuba gear, shall display a diver’s flag, having one diagonal white stripe on a red background and capable of being identified at a distance of not less than one hundred yards. Such flag shall be placed at or near the point of submergence, and shall constitute a warning that a diver is submerged and may be within a radius of one hundred feet from such a flag. Vessels shall keep a distance of one hundred feet from the diver’s flag.
Scuba divers shall keep a distance of one hundred feet from dam outlet structures.
2. If a vessel is engaged in diving operations and as a consequence is restricted in its ability to maneuver, a rigid replica of the
international code flag “A” or Alpha Flag shall be displayed. The flag must be not less than one meter in height and the flag must be blue and white in color.
3. The requirement that the Alpha Flag be displayed from a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver does not relieve the requirement that the diver’s flag also be displayed at or near the point of submergence.

 

[The Chairman]

Excellent! Thanks for this info!

 

[knotical]

NetDoc raised a good question in one of the other threads – what are the conesequences?

The Colorado State Park Boating Statutes and regulations say:

VIOLATION–PENALTY -
Any person who violates any provisions of these statutes and regulations shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Title 33, Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended.

Title 33 is Wildlife and Parks and Outdoor Recreation.
Article 15 of Title 33 is Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Law Enforcement and Penalties.
Within that it appears violators would be:

guilty of a class 2 petty offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars.

Citation: 33-15-102. Imposition of penalty - procedures. Michie's Legal Resources

 

[rye_a]

Wow...a $50 fine for a boater using my dive flag as part of a slalom course doesn't seem like much of a deterrent (even for those in our state who know what a dive flag is).