St. Andrews Jetties Question

[ShallowDiverDave]

Hello Folks,

How deep does it get towards the bay without entering the channel (i.e. on the beach side of the jetty)? Second, if one does not enter the channel, is a dive flag still required?

Thanks a bunch!

David

 

[DocCarl]

Hi David,

I assume you're talking about the area that we refer to as the Kiddie Pool. Currently, I don't think it gets much deeper than about 8 or 9 feet in there.

I can't give you an official answer on the dive flag, but I would think that you'd be ok without one: that area is typically filled with snorkelers.

 

[ShallowDiverDave]

Hi David,

I assume you're talking about the area that we refer to as the Kiddie Pool. Currently, I don't think it gets much deeper than about 8 or 9 feet in there.

I can't give you an official answer on the dive flag, but I would think that you'd be ok without one: that area is typically filled with snorkelers.

Thanks for the response. I was wondering if you follow the jetty towards the bay, away from the kiddie pool, if it would get deeper.

 

[ReefHound]

The flag is required in navigable waters. I have seen a small boat just inside the rocks near the bay. Are there any signs at the kiddie pool entrances saying no boats?

 

[WeldonDowd]

70 fsw range following the jetties toward the Gulf.

 

[scubamiller]

A flag IS absolutely required while SCUBA Diving or snorkeling outside the designated swimming area (kiddie pool); and yes, there are "No Boat" bouys inside the kiddie pool. If you go east of the rocks (jetty) you need a dive flag.

[h=2]For Divers in Florida[/h]
The following is from Chapter
27 of the 2003 Florida Statutes:

327.331 Divers; definitions; divers-down flag required;
obstruction to navigation of certain waters; penalty.--

(1) As used
in this section:

(a) "Diver" means any person who is wholly or partially
submerged in the waters of the state and is equipped with a face mask and
snorkel or underwater breathing apparatus.

(b) "Underwater breathing
apparatus" means any apparatus, whether self-contained or connected to a distant
source of air or other gas, whereby a person wholly or partially submerged in
water is enabled to obtain or reuse air or any other gas or gases for breathing
without returning to the surface of the water.

(c) "Divers-down flag"
means a flag that meets the following specifications:

1. The flag must
be square or rectangular. If rectangular, the length must not be less than the
height, or more than 25 percent longer than the height. The flag must have a
wire or other stiffener to hold it fully unfurled and extended in the absence of
a wind or breeze.

2. The flag must be red with a white diagonal stripe
that begins at the top staff-side of the flag and extends diagonally to the
lower opposite corner. The width of the stripe must be 25 percent of the height
of the flag.

3. The minimum size for any divers-down flag displayed on a
buoy or float towed by the diver is 12 inches by 12 inches. The minimum size for
any divers-down flag displayed from a vessel or structure is 20 inches by 24
inches.

4. Any divers-down flag displayed from a vessel must be
displayed from the highest point of the vessel or such other location which
provides that the visibility of the divers-down flag is not obstructed in any
direction.

(2) All divers must prominently display a divers-down flag in
the area in which the diving occurs, other than when diving in an area
customarily used for swimming only.

(3) No diver or group of divers
shall display one or more divers-down flags on a river, inlet, or navigation
channel, except in case of emergency, in a manner which shall unreasonably
constitute a navigational hazard.

(4) Divers shall make reasonable
efforts to stay within 100 feet of the divers-down flag on rivers, inlets, and
navigation channels. Any person operating a vessel on a river, inlet, or
navigation channel must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at
least 100 feet from any divers-down flag.

(5) Divers must make
reasonable efforts to stay within 300 feet of the divers-down flag on all waters
other than rivers, inlets, and navigation channels. Any person operating a
vessel on waters other than a river, inlet, or navigation channel must make a
reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from any
divers-down flag.

(7) The divers-down flag must be lowered once all
divers are aboard or ashore. No person may operate any vessel displaying a
divers-down flag unless the vessel has one or more divers in the water.
​

 

[DocCarl]

Thanks for the response. I was wondering if you follow the jetty towards the bay, away from the kiddie pool, if it would get deeper.

If you stay on the inside (west side) of the Jetty rocks, and run them all the way north-ish until the end, you might get down to 15' or so. Same 'north' section, east of the jetty rocks will put you somewhere between 12' and 50', depending on where you're at. I've explored the north end of the jetty several times. There is a very significant section that's completely submerged that most folks don't dive. Honestly, anything west of the jetty (headed north from the kiddie pool) I prefer to see on a snorkel.


Carl