Within the past two months, two divers were involved in seperate incidents with another vessel.

Rob Murphy, a diver in Florida, was ran over in January by a boat. The prop caused severe damage to both of his lower legs. They were amputated below the knee later at a hospital.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jan/...t-strikes-him/

Another incident last week left another diver with severe leg injuries. The boat never stopped and left the scene of the incident.

http://www.cdnn.info/news/safety/s090218a.html


Both of these divers were flying the appropriate scuba diving flags. For those that may not know, this is what a SCUBA / diver down flag looks like :



There is another flag (International maritime signal flags) that means the same thing. It is the lesser known Signal Flag Alfa :



When you are out on the water please keep an eye on your surroundings. If you happen to spot a diver flag, stay at least 200 feet or more away from it and transit the area with caution.

There may also be laws regarding minimum distances away from a dive flag that you have to be in your state/local area too.

Stay safe out there on the water.

 

I've had boats get way too close for comfort. Good advice.

 

Thanks for the reminder ET1

 

Scary stuff.. I was on a scheduled mock rescue dive on the Ohio river last fall with a zero vis. We had our flags up with a tri-boat rope off. Apparently someone forgot to tell the Ohio barge transportation that we were going to be there. We had one close call with a barge haulling coal. Good thing we had contact with the surface crew.. Talk about dumping air out of your BC quick!!!

 

It amazes me that ANY idiot can get behind the wheel of a boat and drive it with absolutely no knowledge of things like dive flags or boating ettiquette. I have been boating all my life and I am constantly amazed by the stupid things I see done on the water.

I feel some kind of boating license with proper instruction should be implemented in the name of safety. I also submit my boat to Coast Guard safety inspections when available in my area. It doesn't hurt to have another set of eyes look things over to be sure that your vessel is safe and that your outings don't end in disaster.

I use these Inspections as an excuse to donate my out of date safety flares as well to the Coast Guard Auxiliary for training purposes. I am required to have 1 CC rated fire extinguisher on my boat, you will find 4 up to date units on board at all times. Cheap insurance in my book

 

If caught too close to those flags the penalties are pretty big too!! As a diver it would be nice for boat people to educate themselves!!

 

I think all boaters should be made to take a course of some sort. Either through the CG Aux. or the United States Power Squadron.
I passed the basic US Power Squadron Course (involved reading charts, time/speed/distance calcs., what flags/*****/lights meant, who had right of way etc.) when I was 12 years old.

It's so easy a 12 year old caveman could do it
~Rob

 

Mandatory here in NJ..& you may want to check your state. All Powerboat & PWC operators must hold a Safe Boating Certificate WHILE OPERATING their vessel.
I was grandfathered in, till year or so ago..didnt even realize it was mandatory & I am out on the water everyday. Not like it was a big deal..2) 4 hour classes, and I could have opted to test out, but figured I'd go sit in the class. This way worked paid.
No argument- At the very minimum, everyone needs this class.

Was there more to the stories? No doubt I see real winners out there, but the same guys boating will be the same guys diving, and often takes two to tango.
I've seen guys, no flag, or a fouled flag, in a busy channel, hundred yards away from their boat in harms way. Current took them by surprise or they were having some other trouble, lot of things to go wrong.

 

As a diver I know all to well about people getting too close to dive flags. I had a guy one time drive his boat up to mine cuz he saw my flag in the boat and wanted to know what it was for! ( I had it up high on a pole as I did not use a floating flag) I can imagine if it was a float flag. I bet he would have done the same thing just to see what the flag was.

"Gee whiz guys, whats the funny looking red and white flag doing all by itself in the middle of the lake?"
"I don't know, lets take the boat over and check it out!"

 

You mean that's not the signal for extra points like pedestrians in a crosswalk?

Watch out for the inattentive id10ts out there, both on land and sea.