For Boaters: How to Avoid SCUBA Divers

The Meaning of Those Pretty Flags

One might think that the most hazardous part of SCUBA diving is the whole being under water aspect. We can't really breathe down there without fancy equipment and there are always sharks, big fish and fishing nets ready to make life exciting and dangerous. Not to mention the hazards of decompression sickness, air embolisms and oxygen toxicity for the careless. Out of all of these hazards, however, there is one that many SCUBA divers bring up over and over again as the worst. Can you guess? Yes, it is careless boaters who do not understand the signals we use to warn them of our presence and decide to bring their spinning props close to our heads and limbs.

Many long time divers have hair raising stories about the times they were ascending and heard the ominous thrum of a motor boat directly over head. Or when a clueless (or drunk) boater saw their float and flag and figured it was a good souvenir of the day on the water. Of course, when the boater tried to bring the flag aboard he (they are almost always male) started reeling the diver in as well.

My own experience with a clueless boater was shocking, but thankfully not life threatening as I watched the whole show unfold from the shore. The dive class I was with was doing its open water dives and we were on the shore taking some time to eat and get rid of nitrogen. The dive area was a portion of the lake clearly marked with ropes and dive flags to prevent boaters from endangering the divers. I suppose not everyone got the message as a massive powerboat with a family of four came cruising over and motored right into the dive area. They were within feet of several dive floats marking the lines which the divers used to ascend to the surface. Since no one came up with a head wound or missing limb, I assume that the divers heard the boat and stayed down. Even though no one was physically injured, it was a very dangerous and very illegal action. When you are on the water ignorance is no excuse at all, hence this article.