What does the blue and white dive flag mean?

A diver down flag, or scuba flag, is a flag used on the water to indicate that there is a diver below. Internationally, the code flag alfa/alpha, which is white and blue, is used to signal that the vessel has a diver down and other vessels should keep well clear at slow speed.

What are the 2 types of diver down flags?

There are two types of diver down flags used both nationally and internationally: the diver down flag and the alpha flag. The most commonly used of the two is the diver down flag, which is a red flag with a white diagonal stripe.

What color is a divers flag?

red
Divers Flag: A rectangular red flag with a white diagonal stripe must be displayed from a float during diving operations if on state waters.

What is the diver down flag that is used on Washington Waters?

Alfa Flag
Alfa Flag: A blue-and-white International Code Flag A (or Alfa flag), at least 3.3 feet (one meter) high and visible from all directions, is required and must be displayed on vessels whenever these vessels are restricted in their ability to maneuver by the diving operation.

What do you do if you see a diver down flag?

Stay within 300 feet (90 meters) of the diver down flag or buoy in open water and 100 feet (30 meters) when diving in rivers, inlets or navigation channels. Aim to surface within 150 feet (45 meters) of the dive flag.

Who invented the diver down flag?

Denzel James Dockery
In short, the flag was originally invented in the 1950’s by a Denzel James Dockery from Michigan, who wanted a flag to keep boats at a safe distance from dive boats. He used a combination of the Navy’s red ‘Bravo flag’ that was used to connote danger, and sewed a horizontal white stripe across it.

Which of the following accurately describes the divers-Down symbol?

Diver-Down Symbol: The divers-down warning device must contain a divers-down symbol. The symbol is a red rectangle or square with a white diagonal stripe. If the symbol is rectangular, the length may not be less than the height or more than 25\% longer than the height.

What do you do when you see a divers-down symbol?

Diver-Down Warning Device

• This warning device may be a divers-down flag, buoy, or other similar warning device.
• Boaters must make reasonable efforts to stay at least 300 feet away from divers-down warning devices in open water and at least 100 feet away in rivers, inlets, or navigation channels.

How far away should you be from a diver down flag?

All vessels must make reasonable effort to stay at least 100 feet away from a divers-down device within a river, inlet or channel. In open waters, vessels must make reasonable effort to stay 300 feet away. For safety, divers should stay within those same distances of their displayed device.

How far must a boat stay from a diver down flag?

Vessels must remain at least 50 feet away from the flag. If they have to approach the diving area, operators must have permission from the person who placed the flag or the boat displaying the flag. Outside of 50 feet, vessel operators must operate at “idle speed” out to a distance of 150 feet.