Diver Down Flags: Why You Need One & What the Colors Indicate

Any time you dive, you need a dive flag present. Diver down flags are important safety tools that indicate to other boats and water-goers that diving activities are in progress.

But, did you know that there are different types of dive flags? The different flags have different colors and their presence signals something slightly different.

In this article, we’ll dive into the world of diver down flags: what they are, why you need them, what the different colors and meanings are, and what to look for if you’re looking to purchase your own dive flag.

What is a diver down flag, or dive flag?

Dive flags are an important safety device used by divers all over the world to let boaters and other water-goers know where there are divers in the water. Boat captains must display a diver down flag in a highly visible place to ensure the flag can be easily seen by other vessels.

Dive flags ensure safety in the water for both divers participating in dive activities and boaters participating in other water activities. In some areas, flying a dive flag while scuba diving is required by law, but in general it’s a good idea for safety reasons.

The flags also operate as a universal language, so regardless of where you are in the world, everyone on the water will know what the flag means and how to appropriately respond.

What do dive flags mean?

Both types of dive flags are designed to communicate to others in the water that diving activities are occurring. This generally indicates two things:

1. That there may be divers down below, and
2. That the dive boat may have limited mobility as a result of the diving activities.

Diving flags are intended to ensure that other vessels maintain a safe distance from divers and their boats in order to prevent collisions and other accidents.

There are two types of diver down flags: the diver flag and the alpha flag.

The Diver Flag

The Diver Flag is a rectangular red flag with a white diagonal stripe through it. This flag is used to indicate the presence of a submerged diver in the area. When other boats spot this flag, they’re expected to use caution and slow to “slow-no wake speed”.

The Alpha Flag

The Alpha Flag is officially known as international code flag “A”. It is a blue and white pennant flag that’s flown on all diving vessels. This internationally recognized flag indicates to other boaters that the vessel is engaged in diving activities and therefore has reduced maneuverability. This means that other boats must cede the right of way.

What to look for when purchasing a dive flag

While all dive shops should have dive flags available for you, it may be wise to purchase your own, just in case.

There are two main types of diver down flags that you can purchase: a staff/pole flag or a float flag.

Staff or Pole Flag

A staff or pole flag is a flag that flies on the boat. The main thing to keep in mind with this type of flag is that it needs to be high enough on a staff so vessels can see it above waves or chop. Additionally, a dive flag flying on a boat should be on a pole in a prominent place.

Float & Flag

A flag in float format is designed to float on the water surface. When purchasing a float flag, you want to ensure that it’s buoyant enough to hold the flag and staff, and stable enough that it doesn’t flip over easily. Floats range from simple inflatable buoys, to torpedo shaped floats for easy towing, to heavy-duty surface support rings.

Frequently asked questions about dive flags

Conclusion

We hope that this article has demonstrated the importance of dive flags for safe diving activities and provided guidance on what to look for when purchasing a dive flag of your own.