What Does a Diver-Down Flag Looks Like?

 

Scuba Diving Blog-Scuba Gear Reviews dives, divers, and everyone in between answer this question all the time. When you're under the water, are you wearing a diving flag? Or, is it simply a piece of rubber or is there another meaning to the question "what does a diver-down flag look like?"

The Alfa Flag this is an inflatable plastic flag that you put on your boat to indicate that you are under water. If you plan on scuba diving, you should always wear at least one of these. They come in a variety of colors and can be quite flammable, so you don't want to have a bunch of them floating around in the ocean. Many divers also use these as an identification tag to help others locate them in the event of a dive rescue.

Stiffening Poles these are just what they sound like. They are pieces of rope, typically 4 feet long, that you tie to the front of your boat, like a bungee rope, and basically stay on top of the boat while you are on it. While this sounds really easy, it gets complicated fast. Because you are essentially hanging from the front of your boat, there is a considerable amount of weight on the flag. The best option is to purchase one of the dive flags with a built in spring that will allow it to be blown up if needed.

Diagonal White Swirl This type of flag is similar to the stiffening pole, but it comes in a diagonal style. In addition to a stiffing pole, you have a drag chute to hold your flag up while in the water. What makes this flag unique is the diagonal white stripe that runs down the middle of it. Since the white stripe goes down the middle, it looks like a wave and is a very unique looking piece of equipment for a diver.

United States Navy Diving flag - The United States Navy is by far the most recognized service in the world. Since its earliest days, the USN has been displaying their colors in the form of a diving flag. The original design of the flag was made for the Navy Air Service and later changed to the United States Army Air Service. Now, every member of this service has a unique flag that represents them in the ocean. A diver-down is a common sight when members of the armed forces are called to duty.

The diver down flags can be made from a wide variety of materials, including vinyl, cloth, polyester, nylon, and more. Some of the best materials for a flag are those that are able to withstand a lot of wear and tear. One of the best fabrics that a diver could have his or her flag made out of would be a Dacron material. This fabric is tough and long lasting, and can withstand a lot of washings and scrubbing without getting worn down and discolored.