ooliviaik
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Thanks again! It is so nice to tap into this collective wisdom.
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Thank you so much for your help! So, it seems it would be prudent to have an SMB no matter where I am diving in case I get separated from the boat group. As for a dive flag, that would be best if I am shore diving as my dive boat would already have a flag if I am boat diving.
I can attest to this. The recreational boaters course I took years ago provided next to no information on dive flags. And there was next to no information on how far away to stay away from that flag. Again, check local regs and be prepared for people to have no idea what your flag means, and dive safe.**** It should be noted that a lot of boat users do not understand the meaning of various signals. Including the American Dive Flag, the international Alpha Flag, and SMB's (and DSMB's).
In fact some boat users use SMB's and DSMB's as convenient turning points!
Always take care and look out for boat traffic during ascent and when on the surface.