Dive flags are a lot more useful than they appear, however, a lot of divers do not know how to use them properly.
In a lot of cities around the world, using a dive flag while snorkeling is a must, it is a law even, in cities like Florida in the USA.
This is because dive flags are important to divers as warning triangles are to car owners. They are highly effective in alerting oncoming boats that you are in the water so that they don’t cut you in half with their boat’s propellers.
However, a lot of divers do not even know how to use them, and since dive flags are supposed to float on the surface of the water you are snorkeling in they get confused about where and how to place the line of the flag when doing their thing, and this can be a lot of a hassle.
In this guide, you will learn the importance of dive flags in snorkeling, how to use a dive flag while snorkeling, the best one to buy, and more.
Why Is A Dive Flag Important When Snorkeling?
Snorkeling happens almost at the surface of the water, you don’t need to go too deep into the water during this activity.
And dive flags are needed especially if you are snorkeling in open water that gets a lot to little boat traffic.
These flags serve as warning triangles that alert incoming boats that someone is on the water, once they see the flag, they are required to stop and alert you, so you can get a safe distance or get out of the water entirely.
In a case where you don’t use a dive flag and there is an oncoming boat, you are at the risk of being cut into half by the boat propellers or worse get run over by the boat.
So if you want to stay safe and at the same be law-abiding, get yourself a dive and keep reading to learn how to use them correctly and more.
How To Use A Dive Flag When Snorkeling
To use a dive flag when snorkeling is easy, however, the wrong way to use them is attaching the line to your waist or ankles.
This is dangerous as the line can get tangled with obstacles as you don’t have a lot of voluntary control over it.
The correct way to use a dive flag when snorkeling is to hold the line in your hand. And since snorkeling doesn’t require you diving more than 6ft deep and the flag weighs next to nothing, it won’t wear you down at all.
For freedivers, it is recommended that you get a friend to hold the line of the dive flag at the surface, this is safer and offers more peace of mind.
How To Choose The Best Dive Flag For Snorkeling and Freediving
Before we get started, note that a dive flag doesn’t necessarily have to look like a flag, it can look like anything.
The most popular dive flags are the ones that look like a hot dog and of course the flag looking kind.
However, before you invest in a dive flag, you must put a lot of things into consideration. They are as follows:
- Colour: always go for bright colors like neon and orange. This way boats can even sight them from even a far distance.
- Size: a big dive flag will be visible from a far distance than a smaller one. The bigger the better.
- Material makeup: this refers to the product used in producing it. A good dive mask should be able to float properly and also be able to withstand harsh weather conditions.
So choosing the correct dive flag will give the peace of mind to enjoy your snorkeling experience even in open water with a lot of boat traffic. And NewWave is a brand that makes great dive flags, check them here.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you made it to this point of this guide, you are lucky as you have learned how important dive flags are especially in snorkeling.
Read: How To Keep Your Dive Flag Upright When Snorkeling
From this guide, you must have also learned how to choose the perfect dive flag and where to buy it.
Dive flags will protect you from accidents and mishaps, and the correct way to tow a dive flag when snorkeling is to hold the line on your hand or have a friend hold the line at the surface if you are freediving.