When a diver down flag is displayed, boats should maintain at least how many feet of distance?

When a diver down flag is displayed, boats should maintain at least how many feet of distance?

• A. 100 feet
• B. 50 feet
• C. 200 feet
• D. 10 feet

Answer: (A)

When a diver down flag is displayed, a wide safety buffer is needed around the area where people are in the water. Keeping at least 100 feet away provides enough space so that propellers, wakes, and hull movement won’t risk injuring divers or disturbing their entry and exit from the water. It also gives divers a clear area to surface and signals to other vessels to avoid interfering with the dive. Slow to no-wake speed and stay well clear of the zone until the flag is no longer displayed. Other distances don’t provide the same level of protection; 100 feet is the standard minimum in most boating safety guidelines.

When a diver down flag is displayed, a wide safety buffer is needed around the area where people are in the water. Keeping at least 100 feet away provides enough space so that propellers, wakes, and hull movement won’t risk injuring divers or disturbing their entry and exit from the water. It also gives divers a clear area to surface and signals to other vessels to avoid interfering with the dive. Slow to no-wake speed and stay well clear of the zone until the flag is no longer displayed. Other distances don’t provide the same level of protection; 100 feet is the standard minimum in most boating safety guidelines.