New Diving Signs

[Mink Islander]

I noticed at both Shep Brown's and the Glendale docks that someone has posted signs with a picture of a dive flag with a diver below and reference to staying 150' away and listing the RSA.

Good to see. Now if folks would only follow the law!

[gtxrider]

It would be nice if people obeyed the laws or better yet just used common sense. If ypu spend any time on the lake observe how many boats are toooo close, young kids, under 16, operating Jetskis, etc., etc.. Hopefully with enough signs posted people will get the hint. One can only hope.


Disclaimer:
I am not referring to Forum members in the above reply.

[Grant]

One thoroughly unforgettable experience was standing on the deck of a dive boat anchored at the Lady of the Lake...TWO dive flags, one tethered to the bow of the wreck, one to the stern. BIG flag on the boat (which, BTW, is also red and white). Some dufus floats his boat BETWEEN the flags and the dive boat -- literally 7-10 feet from the dive boat -- while divers are still in the water, some surfacing.

So the signs are a good start, but there needs to be more educations -- and not just about dive flags.

[JDeere]

One day I was boating and going under the Long Island Bridge. As I approached I noticed a dive flag and 2 divers under the bridge. No way to pass without going over them. Seemed wrong to go over them but it also seemed wrong of the divers to close the passage under the bridge.



What was one supposed to do in that situation?

[Mink Islander]

I think I would have called Marine Patrol and urged them that the divers were creating a very dangerous situation. I'd be surprised if they didn't respond promptly. I certainly wouldn't risk killing the dummies by passing over them in shallow water. No one would like that outcome.

Much like when divers clean up around the docks in Wolfboro each year, if they were on a specific "mission" such as to retrieve something lost overboard, you'd certainly expect them to leave a spotter on the boat/bridge to warn people off. Otherwise, I don't think they should have been there at all. Darwin award in the making?

[Winnipesaukee Divers]

Had you called the MPs they would have closed off the entire area and waited for the divers to run out of air. Once the divers were safely out of the water they would have written them up for obstructing navigation…

Well, not really, they most likely would have just sat them on the back of the boat and endeared with a lengthy lecture about them being a hair’s breath from doing hard time for this infraction of the law. I know, I’ve heard it on more than one occasion. However, I got to say that only the Mexican Federalizes knows how to really put the fear of God in you. These MPs on the lake are like your eighth grade teacher busting you for running in the hallways.

The last time I endured this lecture, I pressed the lake MPs to write the summons so we could actually test this in a court of law, but he declined and ranted on for a few more minuets before cutting us louse to go chase down someone who zoom past us to close. I think they would rather use it for tool to imitate people and not louse it all together.

If I need to dive in high traffic areas, always do it at sun up or I dive without a flag and surface only near the dive boat… On more than one occasion I have parked my flag in some obscure place while I explore another area. This works for me because I have honed my underwater navigation skills to get me where I need to be and back. My dive buddies on the other hand, are lost as soon as they put their faces in the water and have to keep surfacing to see where they are.

It’s too bad a few can put a bad name to so many good ones…. What this lake needs; is a few good Mexicans Federalizes to patrol our waters for the summer… It certainly would be interesting to say the least.

[warren]

when i took the course 2 years ago i asked the class of about 20 people who knew what a dive flag looked like, 2 of them knew, let alone how far to stay away. scary. i will never tow a bouy flag again! warren

[Mink Islander]

Last I checked, you're required to always use a dive flag -- for good reason -- and must stay within 75 ft of it. Wouldn't want to wreck my prop by hitting you!

Also, if you are blocking a channel by diving there, common sense would tell most people that a) it's dangerous, b) it's inconsiderate and c) it might be a violation of state laws/regs. So they wouldn't do it -- duh! If you need an MP to explain that to you, you may be breathing something other than just compressed air! If you do it again after being told by an MP that it's not permitted, you deserve a ticket and good luck with your court case!

I've also found in 20+ years on the lake that the MPs do a pretty good job. They've come promptly when I've called them and performed their duties courteously and professionally. Pretty thankless job, really.

[Grant]

Like Winn Divers said, diving high-traffic areas is best done very early in the day, or during an "off" season. And his point about descending and surfacing as close to the boat as possible can't be over-stated on a lake as congested as Winnipesaukee. Case in point -- the ever-popular "Lady" wreck, located in one of the busiest coves in the Lake. My rule of thumb -- always shoot for the anchor line. And, yes, this calls for good navigational skills.

Methinks that the number of divers you'd find blocking a high-volume is extremely low. I've never seen it happen, would never do it myself, and can't think of anyone else who would. Never underestimate the lack of vision, experience, or common sense of anyone behind the wheel of any boat, and you'll always apply the appropriate level of caution.

[Winnipesaukee Divers]

Apparently you think it was me that was diving there that day of your encounter… It wasn’t. I haven dove there in ten years and I don’t expect to dive there anytime soon either.

I always dive with my flag because it’s the law. I even go the extra step and modify my flags to make even more visible and legal. I dislike using the flag because it seems to get me in more trouble then it saves me from. Just last summer, a well meaning young MP officer yanked my dive flag out of my hand, his only defense was: “I though it was adrift”. Pretty dumb of him don’t you think? His parting comment was, “You should be more careful where you dive”. I’ll bet you, he didn’t write himself up on that infraction of the law, now did he?

I suppose you want to know just where was I diving when I got the lectures… The first 2 were at the Lady of the Lake. The next was in Wolfeboro Bay near the mouth of the river. I was actually working on a mooring and the tether on my flag un-spooled itself and drifted near the channel. The one in Mexico was during the Pan-American talks when a group of us on a night dive, got caught in the current and drifted into a restricted area. Our lights gave us away and they had nothing else better to do then escort the dumb Americans back to our hotel. Once the hotel manager had identified us they let us disembark their boat… who knew there such a long step down to the dock and our dive gear? Well, we needed new stuff anyways.

As for my comments about the lake MPs, you’re right, they are well educated and the pay scale dose attracts the best of the best. I actually did pressed the officer because it was time to settle this in the court. I missed the part in the definitions about just where was that boundary line that I stepped over. I also wanted to know, just who actually dose own the lake and why I have to give up my recreation so others can do theirs. Maybe you can answer that one for me?

Don’t worry about damaging your prop on me… I’m a believer in that old saying: There are old divers and there are bold divers, but there are no old bold divers… Even though you may not think so, I do think about the impact my dive flag may have on others and make sure I dive in hazardous areas when no ones else want to be there.

[Grant]

Originally Posted by Winnipesaukee Divers

I also wanted to know, just who actually dose own the lake and why I have to give up my recreation so others can do theirs. Maybe you can answer that one for me?
...

Don’t worry about damaging your prop on me… I’m a believer in that old saying: There are old divers and there are bold divers, but there are no old bold divers…

LOL. Nail has been struck on head, per usual. Thanks.

Can I meet you for a dive some time this spring? Don't care where or for what -- looking for junk, setting a mooring...no biggie. Just enjoy your anecdotes, philosophy, approach, and vast experience under Winni.

[Mink Islander]

I'd be the first to agree with you that you need to be very careful diving the lake. I had an experience last summer where my wife and I had set our large dive flag on our dive site and had backed our boat off about 50 ft, anchored, and were suiting up when a passing boat saw the flag, motored right up to it and the couple leaned over the side to see if they could see anything! Glad we weren't surfacing! Like you, we stay away from the busier areas on weekends, and usually try to dive them early in the morning.

I also agree that the lake is a shared resource where some "users" can negatively impact how other "users" experience the lake. Divers and boaters, boaters and kayakers, jet skis and just about everyone! Not all the issues can be solved with common courtesy, but a whole lot probably would! Here's hoping....

Counting the days until our Belize trip in July....

[GWC...]

Is this the official dive flag?

Wonder how many know its origin – person and year?

Wonder if NH recognizes the International Alpha Flag?

Interesting site that lists the dive flag law for all the states.

Here’s NH’s Dive Flag info.

Interesting info about Utah

and Ohio

[warren]

never seen that one before, i like it but im afraid it might attract more attention, and bring those boats in closer then we want. warren