What should you do if you see a red and white flag floating on the surface of a body of water? You should be aware that the flag means that a scuba diver is beneath the water and you need to give them some space.
Boaters need to be especially cautious and stay at least 100 feet away from the dive flag when boating in a river, channel, or inlet. Stay at least 300 feet away from the dive flag if boating in open water.
Divers could be doing anything from repairing underwater structures, to recovering lost items, to exploring the underwater world recreationally. Divers are trained to surface within 100 feet of the flag. The dive flag is placed in the water before scuba divers go under the water and removed once they get out.
Scuba divers can often be found near break walls in the St. Clair River, but they could also be in open water. Bubbling at the water’s surface is another clue, besides the flag, that there is a scuba diver at work or play beneath the water.
First responders also have teams that are trained for underwater operations.
Be aware of Dive Flags, keep your watercraft away from the area, and enjoy the water.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
