Flag reminder for divers and boaties

Boat skippers and divers are reminded they are legally responsible for displaying a dive flag when diving in Bay of Plenty waters this summer.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council maritime operations manager Reuben Fraser said said the display of dive flags, and awareness of the requirements when they are being displayed, was identified as a significant issue by harbourmasters across the top part of the North Island.

Both boat skippers and divers are legally responsible for displaying a dive flag that is able to be seen and readily identified from 200 metres away.

The legal requirements for boat skippers and divers include displaying a flag at least 600mm high by at least 600mm long and clearly visible even when there is no wind.

"A watch-keeper left on the dive boat must be instructed to wave the flag, so that it can be seen by any approaching vessel at a distance of more than 200 metres. The same onus is on anyone diving from a vessel," Mr Fraser said.

A three-dimensional rigid mounted flag is necessary if no watch-keeper stays on board.
"Divers sometimes drift away from their support boat, so other boaties should expect them to be well away from the boat flying the flag," Mr Fraser said.

Other boats must maintain at least 200ms distance from a dive flag, or keep their speed down to under 5 knots.

The dive flag must be Flag A of the International Code of Signal - a burgee (swallow-tailed) flag coloured in white and blue with white to the mast.