NEWS: Dive Flag Awareness Week June 27 – July 3

Governor, Cabinet proclaim June 27 – July 3 as Dive Flag Awareness Week :
from the FWC
Tuesday, June 9, 2009

TALLAHASSEE — In the past five years, 22 divers in Florida’s waters have been killed or injured after a boat struck them. Many of these incidents could have been avoided had the boaters been on the lookout for divers-down flags, or if the divers had properly displayed the dive flags to alert boaters to their presence.

All vessels must make a reasonable effort to stay at least 100 feet away from a divers-down flag within a river, inlet or channel. In open waters, vessels must make a reasonable effort to stay 300 feet away from a divers-down flag. Within those prescribed distances, a vessel may operate but must be at idle speed.