The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) urges boaters and divers to prioritize safety this summer in and around Sebastian.
Maintaining a watchful eye for your surroundings (360-degree awareness) and following all divers-down flag regulations are key to a worry-free experience.
Divers and dive vessels rely on readily identifiable divers-down flags and buoys to warn of submerged divers. These devices feature a universally recognized symbol: a red rectangle or square with a diagonal white stripe.
This flag must be prominently displayed whenever divers are underwater, even partially, and using equipment like face masks, snorkels, or underwater breathing apparatus.
“When navigating near a divers-down flag, boaters must operate at idle speed within 300 feet in open water or within 100 feet on rivers, inlets or navigational channels,” said Maj. Bill Holcomb, FWC Boating and Waterways Section Leader.
Divers, in turn, should stay within 300 feet of their properly displayed flags in open water and 100 feet near rivers, inlets, or navigational channels.
Proper Flag and Buoy Display
The size of the divers-down symbol matters. For flags displayed on vessels, the minimum dimension is 20 x 24 inches. They should be positioned at the highest point for maximum visibility from all directions.
Flags must be designed to stay unfurled, even in calm conditions. Buoys, on the other hand, require a minimum size of 12 x 12 inches and must display the divers-down symbol on each flat side.
Safety First: Regulations and Responsible Practices
“In the summertime there is a lot going on out there and these regulations are important for divers to remember whether they are diving for scallops in north Florida, lobster in south Florida or recreationally throughout the state,” said Col. Brian Smith, Director of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement.
Col. Smith emphasizes the importance of boat operators staying vigilant and actively looking out for divers-down flags.
He also reminds divers to remove their flags and wear life jackets while traveling between dive spots. “This is not just responsible boating and ensuring the safety of divers and the boating public – it’s also the law.” he said.
The FWC encounters incidents every year where divers are struck, injured, or even killed by vessels. By working together and adhering to regulations, both boaters and divers can significantly reduce the risk of such tragedies.
Stay Informed and Report Violations
For more information on divers-down warning devices, visit MyFWC.com/boating, select “Boating Regulations,” and then “Divers-down Warning Devices.”
Boating violations can be reported anonymously to the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922) or by texting 847411 (Tip411) with the keyword “FWC” and details about the location and violation.