State wildlife officials are encouraging divers to use certain devices to signal they’re scuba diving or snorkeling.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reminding divers that it’s critical to display the divers-down symbol of a buoy or flag when diving.
Officials say it’s not only the lawful thing to do, it also saves lives—adding it’s meant to alert boaters to the presence of people under the water’s surface and to give them plenty of room.
The divers down flag must have a wire to hold it open and a buoy can be three-sided or four sided. The flag displayed on a boat must be at least 20 inches by 24 inches and displayed at a high point.
The buoy, meanwhile, may not be used or displayed from a vessel.
Both can be displayed in the water. In that case, the flag or buoy must be at least 12 inches by 12 inches.
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