How to "pull" a dive flag?

[DivemasterDennis]

I agree with holding the reel, not attaching it to yourself.. Other thoughts from a recent article I wrote follow.....If you are an accomplished enough diver to go off on your own with a buddy and dive, it is important for you to use a dive flag. You learned that in your first certification class. The flag is on a float of some kind, and is attached to a line on a reel that a member of the dive group holds, or sometimes ties off during the dive. Use of a dive flag can be an inconvenience, but it is important because it lets boaters know to stay away (hopefully they will), lets others know where you are, and allows people on the surface to get your attention if there is a need to do so. The dive flag should be mounted on a float that is easily visible from a passing boat and keeps the flag unfurled and above the water. If you tie off your flag, only tie it to dead things. Do not tie it off on a branch of living coral or to living plants. Find a rock, a dead coral head, or a post or mooring block, anything that is not living. And if you tie off your flag, stay in reasonable proximity to it so that it is performing its functions of marking your location and keeping boat hazards away from you. Also remember to retrieve your flag and bring it in when you are finished at that site for the day. A dive flag left out in the water can be a hazard to navigation, to snorkelers, paddle boarders or other divers, and can give someone a false impression that there are missing or distressed divers in the water. You don’t want to trigger a search for you and your buddy because your dive flag is out in the water and someone actually noticed it. If you are thinking of diving without a flag, you are making a bad choice. In addition to the dangers apparent in not using one, many locations provide for a substantial fine if you are caught diving without one. Fines vary from $50.00 ( Florida) to up to $1000.00
DivemasterDZennis

 

[TMHeimer]

DivemasterD, Agree of course. I almost always use a flag diving (in winter) on the FL panhandle and in July in the NYC area. There are always exceptions of course. I haven't used one yet diving on Nova Scotia's "Eastern Shore". Can't recall seeing one boat where I dive here in 9 years. Probably was two or three? Don't think cops would even know to stop most places where I park the car. But this as I say is the exception. Another plus is though the diving is just OK, parking free (even in provincial parks) and doing most anything you want without rules is real nice. But elsewhere, any chance of boats and I always use the flag, regardless of laws.

 

[btw2459]

I generally carry the reel in my hand. However I've used a 4ft piece of cord with a snap at one end attached to my bcd. The other end of the cord has a small float attached. The flag reel is attached close to the float. This means that the reel can be left floating above and behind you out of the way and can be hauled in to reel line in or out as required.