Snorkelling on the three mile with no flag!!!!
Couldn'r believe it coming in on Sunday near Staggies reef. As I powered in doing roughly 25knots looking out for the occaissional cray pot to avoid, I see a little dinghy anchored right adjacent to the reef break mayne 200m away as I go to move inside between him and the reef maybe 80m to port. I suddenly see what looked like two red crayfloats and swerved to ensure I didn't hit any stray ropes. As I get level I notice its a couple of blokes in the water at least 80m from their dinghy with no dive flag and nobody onboard.
Compassion was the overriding emotion as I enquired if they were OK (seeing as they were miles away from their boat.) They waved me on, but then the further away I got from them the more it made me realise just how lucky they were not to have been run down. I sincerely hope they made it back to their boat, otherwise they would have been making an entry into the Darwin Awards for 2013.
Honestly the stupidest place to park and snorkel with no dive flag and be so frigging far from the boat.
Rant over....
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Its a bit odd, but there is
Its a bit odd, but there is no legal requirement to have a dive flag for snorkeling, only scuba.
kbad
Posts: 26
Date Joined: 17/07/09
And there's no legal
And there's no legal requirement not to look down the barrel of a loaded gun while playing with the trigger either
Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
May not be a legal requirement but...
3nm from shore and 80 to 100m from your boat in a common thoroughfare.... not the smartest move.
It may not have been the leads but its where 80% of the boats leaving and returning to Mindarie from out wide would come in when the conditions are good. Just shocked me that people can be that ignorant of the dangers they put themselves into.
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
Notorious
Posts: 913
Date Joined: 23/02/12
freediving with no float is
freediving with no float is silly.......however when diving with a reel gun it has to be done.......I swim within 50m of the boat (showing a dive flag though)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/174055815943047/?fref=nf
Swompa
Posts: 4044
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Got this
Got this yesterday:
Attention: News Editor/Chief of Staff
February 4, 2013
For immediate release
Snorkellers should use dive flag
Marine safety authorities are urging skippers with snorkellers operating from their vessel to use a dive flag, especially at busy boating locations.
Department of Transport (DoT) Director of Marine Operations Ray Buchholz said while safety regulations do not require a dive flag for snorkelling it was highly recommended to enhance safety.
“There is concern about the growing number of skippers allowing snorkellers to operate from their vessel without a flag,” Mr Buchholz said.
“In areas of vessel traffic, in isolated areas or further offshore it’s recommended a dive flag be considered to alert skippers and enhance the safety of snorkellers.”
Diving laws in WA require vessels with SCUBA or Hookhah divers operating from them to display a dive flag in keeping with the International Flag Code which is no less than 750 mm in length or 600 mm in width and is clearly visible (360 degrees).
The regulations require skippers who see a dive flag on a vessel or buoy to keep a proper lookout, proceed at a safe speed and where possible keep their vessel at least 50 metres clear.
Where it is not possible to keep 50 metres clear skippers must proceed at the slowest possible speed.
“Both skippers and divers have an important role; skippers need to be extra cautious when navigating in the area and keep 50 metres clear and divers need to ensure they surface within 50 metres of their flag,” Mr Buchholz said.
“Summer is one of the busiest times on the water and there will be tragic consequences if skippers or divers fail to abide by the rules.”
iving signal, all vessels
Those wanting a copy DoT's safety publication Caution Diver Below or more information about safe boating are encouraged to visit www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine
Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 0408 098 220
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
A good idea that they put
A good idea that they put this out.
There was some discussion, in a few circles, that freedivers using a dive flag was illegal and as such they can't be afforded the same protection as scuba and hookah divers.
That is why some won't put one up.
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Well done Andy - agree!
Legal or not (and that nneeds to be changed), if I was snorkling, as oppossed to diving, especially in the marine environment/situation you described, I'd certainly be making sure I was VERY visible - and the flag is definatly what any skipper would (should) be watching out for. They were VERY luck they encountered a careful, safe and experienced skipper, otherwise it could have been a LOT worse.
Yes, not the brightest or safest move.
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
Michael Yoni
Posts: 606
Date Joined: 02/01/11
Great to see you avoided
Great to see you avoided disaster by keeping watch. (sure you weren't trying to ping their spot
)
They probably got dragged out due to a bit of current. But yes any marker to make them visible is paramount.
big john
Posts: 8786
Date Joined: 20/07/06
LOL
Ping their spot! Chop em up with the prop next time, good berley.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
Versus
Posts: 918
Date Joined: 06/03/09
Doesn't it make MORE sense
Doesn't it make MORE sense for snorkellers to need a flag, moreso than scuba (in high traffic areas)? being on the surface the whole time multiplies the chance of being run over etc. Like you said, nominations for the Darwin award haha
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Yes, but they didn't want to
Yes, but they didn't want to burden your average joe blow going to the beach with having to have a flag.
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
Frequently swimmers are in
Frequently swimmers are in the ocean swimming from Mullaloo LS to Hillaries and back.
Last Sunday there was a snorkeler snorkeling in a black wet suit at Hillaries reefs without any visible indicator at all.
In the first instance I thought it was a seal/shark.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8707
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Speed humps
With out a flag they become potential speed humps, just asking to be run over when diving in open waters
sea-kem
Posts: 15250
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Yep and the minute someone
Yep and the minute someone runs over one with a boat you can bet your bippy they will be charged.
Love the West!
kmo
Posts: 127
Date Joined: 17/01/12
It has happened
My mate got ran over at the FADs flying a flag on the boat and towing a float and still the guy got off with a slap on the wrist because the victim was a snorkeller and the flag didn't apply.
I hate towing my float around, but I've had too many near misses now to risk diving without it. I had a look at spearing the three mile near Ocean Reef one day and pulled the pin before I even started because of all the boats.
Freedivers will cover the ground within 50m of the boat in no time, so please bear in mind that these guys will stray outside the zone when approaching a boat flying a dive flag.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
That is part of the situation
That is part of the situation I alluded to. Interesting that they decided to reverse it to suit themselves now.
Longole
Posts: 55
Date Joined: 20/02/11
Based on recent cases in WA
Based on recent cases in WA even if a snorkeller has a boat flag (and is within 50m of it) and /or has a personal float with flag and gets hit the boat driver won't get charged. Worst that happens is fine for exceeding 8knts within 45m of another vessel.
sensible or not that is the law we are currently stuck with.
Floats and flags are sadly not a magic bullet either, there have been several brain damage / limb loss accidents on the east coast in recent years where the divers have had boat AND personal flags AND been right next to them. The most recent case was only 2 weeks ago when Matt Sykes was killed. Those divers are covered under the law over there but that doesn't help if you are dead.
It has to work both ways, Skippers: keep a good watch. Divers stay near your boat and display a flag, if you go for a longer swim take a float/flag
little johnny
Posts: 5376
Date Joined: 04/12/11
i always use dive flag
tank or free dive ,,,doesnt stop jet skis hammering within feet off you ...my oldest boy had near miss last year in s/bay...8 knot zone.. i think the guy was going that fast he couldnt see(water in eyes) missed him by half a foot..he had dive flag attached to him...??
fishfish
Posts: 307
Date Joined: 01/09/09
Free dive flags
Hey Till can you elaborate on the subject off free divers with flags not being allowed ?? I think I'm reading this correctly ..
Whats the potential problem ??
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
This;
This;
http://fishwrecked.com/forum/snorkelling-three-mile-no-flag#comment-477304