What must you do as an operator of a pleasure craft in sight of vessels engaged in diving operations?

As the operator of a vessel you are responsible for the safety of the vessel, of your passengers and those around you. Whether you are boating in a familiar or unfamiliar area, you must keep a proper lookout (by sight and hearing) for potential hazards and travel at a safe speed so that you are able to take appropriate action to avoid collisions.

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What you need to know about divers
What to do around divers
Brochure and sticker
Related information
On this site
Other websites
Traveling at high speed
Wake and wash
Restricted visibility
Maintain a proper lookout
Attract the attention of another vessel
Instruct passengers about emergency procedures
Other vessels

Rules are in place to protect the safety of divers in the water by regulating the operation of other vessels in the vicinity.

It is important that vessel operators know what warning signals may be displayed when divers are in the water and the rules that apply to vessels operating in the vicinity.

What you need to know about divers

While some commercial divers may operate in specific areas, commercial and recreational divers may operate in any waters during the day or night. Further, some diving may involve operating from small vessels using a hookah – that is a long hose delivering air to the diver from a deck mounted compressor.

At night, a vessel (depending on its size) must display its required navigation light indicating at anchor, and in addition, either three all-round lights in a vertical line (top and bottom and red and the middle white), or an illuminated rigid replica of the flag visible all-round.

When a diver is operating in a harbour independently of a vessel, a rigid replica of this flag, at least 300mm by 200mm in size, must be displayed at all times, from a buoy or float which is moored within 30m of the diver or is attached to a line and towed by the diver.

What to do around divers

The operator of a vessel operating in the vicinity of a vessel, float or buoy displaying a signal indicating the presence of a diver below, must navigate to avoid injury to the diver or interference with the vessel, float or buoy.

Further, in South Australia, the operator of a vessel must slow to 4 knots within 50 metres of a vessel or buoy which is displaying a flag indicating that there is a diver below.

When operating in this area keep a lookout for persons or equipment in the water and proceed with due caution until well clear.

It is recommended, however, that you stay well clear of the area as a diver may be operating some distance from the vessel, float or buoy that is displaying the diving signal.

Brochure and sticker

The information above is taken from The Beware - Diver below brochure (250.2 KB PDF)

The brochure and the diver below sticker are available upon request by emailing Marine Safety SA.

On this site

South Australian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook

Other websites

Marine news - Marine Safety SA

Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations do not specify any speed limits, because there are too many different factors that can bring a pleasure craft operator to modify his/her speed. Conditions of visibility, traffic density, wind, sea, and current conditions, and the proximity of navigational hazards are different circumstances that will incite a prudent pleasure craft operator to navigate at safe speeds. You must always operate your pleasure craft in such a way as to maintain control at all times. By keeping control of your pleasure craft you can avoid an accident; therefore, protecting the passengers from injury or death.

Traveling at high speed

A pleasure craft traveling at high speed requires increased stopping distance in the event that the operator must stop in an emergency. This situation requires that the operator be more attentive because he/she has less time to react to changing conditions. In low visibility, such as fog or night navigation, the regulations require that the operator adopt a speed according to the conditions at hand. In the case of restricted visibility (fog, falling snow, heavy rain, etc.) the operator must use a sound signalling appliance in order to signal his/her presence.

A boating restriction regulation may be emitted locally for:

prohibited vessel types,
standardized speed limits, and
maximum engine power limits.

Wake and wash

The operator of a pleasure craft shall at all times proceed with caution at a speed, such that “wake and wash” will not adversely affect:

other vessels, such as anchored vessels, grounded vessels, wrecks, dredge, tow;
rowboats or canoes;
passing by works such as shoreline, docks, floats, or wetlands;
other waterways users such as swimmers;
areas of bathing beaches, areas where divers are working, or areas of anchorage.

Restricted visibility

One must not forget that the operator of a pleasure craft not in sight of other vessels in or near an area of restricted visibility (fog, falling snow, heavy rain, etc.) shall proceed at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility.

Maintain a proper lookout

Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing as well as by all available means which are appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions, in order to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.

Attract the attention of another vessel

If necessary, to attract the attention of another vessel, any vessel may make light or sound signals.

In or near an area of restricted visibility, whether by day or night, a power-driven vessel making way through the water shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes one prolonged blast. A power-driven vessel underway but stopped and making no way through the water shall sound at intervals of not more than two minutes, two prolonged blasts in succession with an interval of about two seconds to make its postion known to other boaters.

Instruct passengers about emergency procedures

A pleasure craft operator should instruct passengers about emergency procedures and the use of safety equipment on the boat, during a pre-departure meeting.

Any vessel with divers operating from it must always display signals by day or night to inform other vessel users.

A five knot speed limit applies to vessel operators and water skiers within a distance of 100 m of a vessel, buoy or structure on which a ‘diver below’ signal is displayed.

Divers

Divers should make themselves visible to boaters with the appropriate day flag or night signal. Consider bright clothing for higher visibility. Avoid areas of high vessel usage and areas where the terrain might inhibit vessel operators’ ability to see you in the water.

Day diving: White and blue International Code Flag ‘A’

Vessels under 10 m: Display dive flag at least 750 mm long and 600 mm wide.

Vessels longer than 10 m: Display dive flag at least 1 m. It should be placed to ensure all-round visibility.

Night diving: International signal for a vessel restricted in its ability to manoeuvre

Vessels must show at least three lights in a vertical line, with the top and bottom being red and the middle one white, only where the size of the vessel makes it impracticable to exhibit the lights and shapes otherwise required.

Resources

Other vessels

Be aware that divers in the water may not be near a vessel. A diver who is not operating from a vessel that is displaying a dive flag will be attached to a buoy that has a dive flag attached to a rigid replica of the flag.

A master of the vessel must not operate at a speed exceeding 5 knots within 100 m of a vessel or a buoy on which a dive flag is displayed. Divers may ascend at any time.

Pictures supplied by NSW Maritime

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