A diver down flag, or scuba flag, is a flag used on the water to indicate that there is a diver below. Two styles of flag are in use. 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. In North America it is conventionally red with a white stripe from the upper left corner to the lower right corner.
The "Alpha" or "Alfa" flag (left) and red-and-white flag (right), both meaning "I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed"
The purpose of the flags is to notify to any other boats to steer clear for the safety of the diver and to avert the possibility of a collision with the dive boat which may be unable to maneuver out of the way.
Signal flag Alphaedit
A diver getting ready to dive in front of an alpha flag.
As a code signal the International maritime signal flag Alpha (or "Alfa", signifying the letter "A") has the meaning of "I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed",[1] used to indicate the presence of a diver in the water and is used in all countries other than the United States, Canada, sometimes Italy, and countries within the US's diving culture sphere of influence such as certain countries within the Caribbean.
A rigid replica of the 'Alpha' flag is required to be displayed by any vessel engaged in diving operations when restricted in her ability to maneuver, if the size of the vessel makes it impractical to display the shapes and lights required by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS) Rule 27.[2][3]
The red and white flagedit
Diver down flag being flown on a dive ship
The use of the red and white flag, which was created in the early 1950s by Navy veteran Denzel James "Doc" Dockery of Michigan, and popularized by Ted Nixon of US Divers,[4] is required by law or regulation in many US states, Canada,[5] and some other countries (e.g. Italy).[6] Usually the regulations require divers to display the flag while diving and to stay within a specified area when they are near the surface. There may also be a larger zone around the flag where no boats are allowed to pass.[7] Some states also prohibit the display of this flag when there is no diver in water.[5] It can be placed on a boat or on a surface marker buoy.
Other usesedit
Today the red and white flag is so strictly associated with scuba diving in North America that it is also used to indicate a place where there are services for divers, for example stores selling or renting diving equipment or scuba service stations. It may be seen on the windows or bumpers of cars belonging to divers.[8]
Elongated variant of the Diver down flag
Code flag alfa/alpha also represents the letter 'A' in signalling.
Rock band Van Halen used the red and white flag as the cover art of their 1982 album Diver Down.
Referencesedit
^"Maritime flags and their meaning". eoceanic.com. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
^"Amalgamated International & U.S. Inland Navigation Rules". U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
^"Dive Flags: The Story Of The Scuba Diver Down Flag". Coastal Angler Magazine. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
^ abMcMillan, Joseph (2001). "Maritime Warning Signals". Sea Flags. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
^"Italian regulations about the Diver Down Flag". D.P.R. n° 1639 del 2 ottobre 1968 (in Italian). Retrieved 1 February 2010.
^"What Does a Diver Down Flag Look Like?". XploreDive. 2020-07-22. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
^"Dive Flag Awareness". The Scuba News. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Diver flags.
"Nautical flag history". Retrieved 16 April 2020.
. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008.
Wallbank, Alister (2001). . Journal of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society. 31 (2): 116–119. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2008.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
Whitten, Chris (2010). "Dive Flag Law: Rules for U.S. divers and boaters". Retrieved 18 November 2016. Collection of US regulations for each state.
November 13, 2023
diver, down, flag, diver, down, flag, scuba, flag, flag, used, water, indicate, that, there, diver, below, styles, flag, internationally, code, flag, alfa, alpha, which, white, blue, used, signal, that, vessel, diver, down, other, vessels, should, keep, well, . A diver down flag or scuba flag is a flag used on the water to indicate that there is a diver below Two styles of flag are in use 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 In North America it is conventionally red with a white stripe from the upper left corner to the lower right corner The Alpha or Alfa flag left and red and white flag right both meaning I have a diver down keep well clear at slow speed Contents 1 Purpose 2 Signal flag Alpha 3 The red and white flag 4 Other uses 5 References 6 External linksPurpose editThe purpose of the flags is to notify to any other boats to steer clear for the safety of the diver and to avert the possibility of a collision with the dive boat which may be unable to maneuver out of the way Signal flag Alpha edit nbsp A diver getting ready to dive in front of an alpha flag As a code signal the International maritime signal flag Alpha or Alfa signifying the letter A has the meaning of I have a diver down keep well clear at slow speed 1 used to indicate the presence of a diver in the water and is used in all countries other than the United States Canada sometimes Italy and countries within the US s diving culture sphere of influence such as certain countries within the Caribbean A rigid replica of the Alpha flag is required to be displayed by any vessel engaged in diving operations when restricted in her ability to maneuver if the size of the vessel makes it impractical to display the shapes and lights required by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea IRPCS Rule 27 2 3 The red and white flag edit nbsp Diver down flag being flown on a dive shipThe use of the red and white flag which was created in the early 1950s by Navy veteran Denzel James Doc Dockery of Michigan and popularized by Ted Nixon of US Divers 4 is required by law or regulation in many US states Canada 5 and some other countries e g Italy 6 Usually the regulations require divers to display the flag while diving and to stay within a specified area when they are near the surface There may also be a larger zone around the flag where no boats are allowed to pass 7 Some states also prohibit the display of this flag when there is no diver in water 5 It can be placed on a boat or on a surface marker buoy Other uses editToday the red and white flag is so strictly associated with scuba diving in North America that it is also used to indicate a place where there are services for divers for example stores selling or renting diving equipment or scuba service stations It may be seen on the windows or bumpers of cars belonging to divers 8 nbsp Elongated variant of the Diver down flagCode flag alfa alpha also represents the letter A in signalling Rock band Van Halen used the red and white flag as the cover art of their 1982 album Diver Down References edit Maritime flags and their meaning eoceanic com Retrieved 11 July 2022 Amalgamated International amp U S Inland Navigation Rules U S Coast Guard Navigation Center Retrieved 11 July 2022 IRPCS Rule 27 Retrieved 1 February 2010 Dive Flags The Story Of The Scuba Diver Down Flag Coastal Angler Magazine 1 June 2014 Retrieved 11 July 2022 a b McMillan Joseph 2001 Maritime Warning Signals Sea Flags Retrieved 1 February 2010 Italian regulations about the Diver Down Flag D P R n 1639 del 2 ottobre 1968 in Italian Retrieved 1 February 2010 What Does a Diver Down Flag Look Like XploreDive 2020 07 22 Retrieved 2021 08 21 Dive Flag Awareness The Scuba News 16 April 2022 Retrieved 11 July 2022 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Diver flags Nautical flag history Retrieved 16 April 2020 US diver down flag history Archived from the original on 5 May 2008 Wallbank Alister 2001 Can anybody see me modified reprint from DIVER 2000 45 2 February 72 74 Journal of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society 31 2 116 119 Archived from the original on January 16 2009 Retrieved 13 October 2008 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint unfit URL link Whitten Chris 2010 Dive Flag Law Rules for U S divers and boaters Retrieved 18 November 2016 Collection of US regulations for each state Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Diver down flag amp oldid 1135743837, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
