Diver down flag

The dive flag (also dive flag, scuba diving flag, red and white flag, alpha flag, Alpha pennant or swallowtail called A ) is a protective and warning signal, which is set in areas where divers in the water hazard by vessels (ships, boats, surfers, etc.) is. The dive flag consists of either a blue and white pennant which is split vertically in the middle or a red flag with a white diagonal line.

Requirements and acceptance

There is no uniform international rules on the use of a dive flag. Depending on the country one way or another flag is true. In some states it is mandatory to use, in others there is no obligation. Again, in some regions there is only a duty, when diving from a boat. Some of the rules, depending on water are different. Not infrequently, therefore, is also recommended as a precaution equal to hoist flags both in doubt.

The importance of the dive flag is often not well known among water sports enthusiasts, so it repeated accidents and near-accidents with windsurfers, jet skis and boats, even abuse the part a flagged buoy as a turning point comes.

The alpha flag

The "Alpha" flag (letter A ) the international alphabet flag, also means; "I have to keep diver down distance when driving slowly ." When the flag "Alpha" is a stander, which is divided vertically in the middle. The inner surface is white, the outer blue.

In Germany is in the scope of the inland waterways - order the Alpha flag clearly visible to put on the diving vehicle and illuminate at night, so that other vehicles can pass carefully and at a sufficient distance.

In Switzerland, a statutory requirement for all dive sites and divers at entry and exit to place a highly visible from her water Alpha Flag and illuminate at night. Watercraft have to maintain a distance of at least 50 meters to the flag. Failure to comply with these rules will be punished with a fine.

The alpha flag is also true in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and Kenya as an official signal for " diver in the water."

The American Michigan Diving Flag

In the early 1950s began the use of a flag other than diving signal. Based on the warning function of the red flag "Bravo" (letter B of the international alphabet flag ) created Denzel James Dockery from Michigan a horizontal red-white- red striped flag as warning and safety flag for divers. Because of the risk of confusion with the flag of Austria you changed the white horizontal line into a diagonal line. ( A vertical division of red-white- red was out of the question because it was occupied by the U.S. Navy already for the number 7. ) The white line starts at the top of the mast and ends at the bottom of the flying end.

While the laws of many states in the USA and Canada call this red-white Michigan Flag, the U.S. Navy used to be the alpha flag.

Other Applications

Today, many companies and organizations that are active in the field of diving, the dive flag, or a variant of it to use as their logo. Mainly the American Michigan dive flag can be found on various diving equipment and souvenirs. Sticker in the colors of the dive flag diver also like to use as mutual recognition signs on their vehicles. Dive sites are marked on maps and charts often with a dive flag icon.

The rock band Van Halen used in 1982, the Michigan - dive flag for their album titled: Diver Down.