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Wisconsin Dive Flag Regulation:

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bgill

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Jun 14, 2006
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Hey guy's...Alot of our dive flags/buoys ARE NOT legal !!! :naughty

Not that I care about anyone's illegal activitie's - But I would not want to see anyone be "ran over" by a boat or get a ticket for "too small of a flag"...I noticed I had a HARD time finding Dotey the other day in the rough water...His flag is like 7x7...That's fine if he stays 150 feet from the boat IF the boat is displaying a PROPER flag, which it was.

Anyways I ran accross this while trying to figure out a way to securely get a better flag on my "used" O.M.E.R. Atoll float...I pimped that float out...Now it's the way it should've been from the factory! I can't beleive that OMER put out such a sub standard peice of gear :head...It is easily brought up to par though...Just a little tinkering and some cheap stuff from the local hardware store. I got about $10.00 into it to make the flag fly proper.

I also inserted a 1/2" foam bottom inside the bag...Fills it out and gives it better shape and doe's'nt let it "sag" as I've seen it do with an uneven front/back end load...Also added a weight in a cutout in the foam bottom inside the bag/cover to keep 'er from flipping in the wind.
I'll post/take some pic's if someone request. She's "officially" been pimped!!!

Now "my pole" stands straight up....Like it should have from the beginning...No sagging or bulging in the middle of the float either...As the float itself and the flag are MUCH improved!!! As will be my spearing outings!!! (Sounds like a commercial for VIAGRA!!!) rofl

Oh!!!! THE FLAG HAS TO BE 12" x 15" minimum and the white diagonal stripe has to be 3" wide...To be "legal" anyways....

I know I wan't to be safe, and legal! Mostly safe though!

EDIT: Oh yeah...The Alpha flag should be flown on Lake Michigan...And it's a good Idea anywhere nowadays...It's such a small world...Foreign people's might not know about the "red & white" dive flag!
 
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Don't forget about flying an Alpha flag as well when out in Lake Michigan- to be legal. None of the drunken boaters know what it means so you'll have to fly the red and white one as well.

My Rob Allen foam float came with a standard sized flag from the start- so will just about anything else purchased from a local dive shop. My OMER float, Cressi float, and Sporasub float all came with sub standard flags.

Make sure you fly one in Devil's Lake if you go- a friend got hit with a $125 fine while diving there once. The funny thing is, that gas engines aren't even allowed in Devil's Lake- same holds true for Lannon Quarry.

Jon
 
Reactions: bgill
so even with my float being bright orange i still need a bigger flag ? mmm ill have to find out a way to put a bigger flag on it cause the float itself is hunter orange
 
Jon said:
Don't forget about flying an Alpha flag as well when out in Lake Michigan
Click to expand...
I forget the details but international maritime law states that a diver should use the red and white flag on their floats when diving alone (no boat). When diving with a boat the Alpha flag should be flown from the boat and the diver should still display the red and white one on their float. I did post a link somewhere on db to the law a couple of years ago if anyone cares to hunt it down
 
Reactions: bgill
Hey, want to tell us what you did bgill? I just ordered the atoll, and would be glad to know what it takes to bring it up to par.
 
I cut some foam shaped like "the Atoll" from 1/2" "Kid's play area floor matts" and put it under and on top of the inflatable pillows inside of the float. The top one is slightly smaller - This "stiffen's" up the float so it does'nt sag. It also "fills" out the bag completely. I also laid a couple of #5 lead fishing weights into the bottom layer of foam on each side slightly aft. This is to stabilize the float in the wind to prevent it from flipping - Especially with a regulation sized flag.

I also added a few peices of 1" round foam to the back of the float bag by stuffing them in there first. I did this to BEEF UP the area where the flag goe's into the elastic straps.

Witht he elastic straps I stuffed some 1/2" soft tube PVC with a cap on the bottom into the elastic straps and GLUED it onto/into the straps with PVC glue.

I made my own flag pole from a "wired" regulation sized flag, 1/4" fiberglass rod, some smaller diameter soft PVC piping, and an old key ring. The flag pole slips into the soft pvc mount that I attached to the float and is a tight "slip fit" and is very secure.

I also added several clips and another metal key ring to the front to clip my stringer, floatline and speargun onto.

The flag now stands erect and is legal...(The flag it comes with IS NOT legal in Wisconsin!) And I don't think it will tip or "kite" in heavy wind now with the added weight of the foam and the big lead fishing weights I strategically placed inside of the float in partial "cutout's in the foam and then taped over with duct tape. I've heard from many people that the "Atoll" float tips over in a moderate wind when used "as is" anyways.

I may also "do away" with "some" of the velcro straps on the bottom at some point possibly.

Note: To add the foam layer's - you don't want to have the two bladder's over-inflated. The foam really beefs up the weak point where the two bladder's slightly overlap. As I said before in an earlier post...I've ssen the Atoll floats with an extreme sagging or bulging in the middle due to over-loading the float with fish and gear. I'll never overload it with gear...But with fish...MAYBE!
 
Good timing . I would have went out today without a flag. I made a legal 15 by 17 flag out of styrafoam, cardboard, computer paper, staples, and pencils.
I felt dumb dragging it through the weeds in Upper Genesse lake, where motored boats are not allowed. Although, the one canoe sure did keep a distance.
 

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bgill. I have no idea how to put the atol together? Cant find a hole for the flag, and when i put in the bladders and try to inflate them, they extend out over the velcro that keeps the bladder pouches closed.
 
this is what my float looks like it is bright hunters orange with the flag red with white line and i have never had anyone say anything about it and have never had anyone not see me heck from a boat you can see that thing from a mile away its so bright they are used in the ocean so i dont know
 
Yea, but I already have a float. Im just trying to put it together. You can imagine what I was like when I was fixin up the home entertainment center.
 
There's some loops on the flat end of the Atoll float for the flag staff to slide into. I've seen divers lose the flagpole right out of there, so most will try and improvise something to hold it in tighter- you might try a snorkel keeper wrapped around the loop and attached to either side of the pole.

I would also try slipping the bladders in first before you inflate them all the way- should make it easier for you.

Jon
 
chris_h said:
I made a legal 15 by 17 flag out of styrafoam, cardboard, computer paper, staples, and pencils.
I felt dumb dragging it through the weeds in Upper Genesse lake, where motored boats are not allowed.
Click to expand...

Don't feel dumb! More folks need to utilize that brand of ingenuity. You made due in a pinch, and you were smart (and legal) for doing so. Nicely done. :martial
 
Im putting in the bladders deflated jon, Im not THAT stupid. roflIts just that when I inflate them, they extend out over the velcro... Its a bugger, but I think the two bladders might overlap a little? If not im just going to fill the entire thing with like swimming boards cutout to that shape. That should be more durable anyways.
 
Fleshy- the bladders do overlap - about an inch or two. I think putting in a styrofoam board would work nice- the bladders are nice if you need to break it down small for travel. Do you see where the flag goes yet? goes on the end- there are 2 elastic holes, it goes through both. It's a good float- does the job fine.
 

Personally I notice "White" a whole lot faster than orange. Just look at small craft on the water. If its bl orange on a heavey chop and a cloudy day. And the guy comming at you is low on the water it may be a problem for you so stay sharp at all times trust no one that way. btw what color is the alpha flag??
 
The most important thing to remember is to have your flag up high enough so boaters can see it.

Here's a shot of some scuba diver's flag from this past weekend. rofl

We were diving the Habitat when these two boat loads of bubble blowers showed up and immediately started to get tangled in our training lines that we had set up- about 45 minutes earlier.

After untangling their mess, more times than I can count, I snapped a picture of these budding Jacques Cousteau swimming by underwater.:head:head:head

Jon
 

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Lol wow, sometimes you wonder. It seems all to long ago that I got certified to be a bubble-blower, but its gotten me a job now, so whatever.
 
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