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Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Divers-Down Flag

State law requires that scuba divers or snorkelers display a flag whenever they are in the water.

The "divers-down" flag is a square or rectangular red flag (if on vessels, at least 20 x 24 inches; at least 12 x 12 inches on towed buoys) with a white diagonal stripe and with wire or other stiffener to hold it unfurled and extended.
In addition, a blue and white International Code Flag A (or Alfa flag) may be displayed on dive vessels on federally controlled waters. This flag indicates that a vessel is involved in a diving activity. The Alfa flag does not satisfy requirements of Florida state law.
Boaters must make reasonable efforts to stay 300 feet away from dive flags in open water and 100 feet away in rivers, inlets, or navigation channels.
Boaters approaching "divers-down" flags closer than 300 feet in open water and 100 feet in rivers, inlets, or navigation channels must proceed no faster than is necessary to maintain headway and steerageway (idle speed).

Divers Flag Alfa Flag

Scuba divers or snorkelers should not place the flag where it will obstruct traffic or create a hazard to navigation on a river, inlet, or navigation channel. In open waters, divers and snorkelers must make reasonable efforts to stay within 300 feet of their "divers-down" flag; in rivers, inlets, and navigation channels, the distance from the flag should be within 100 feet. The "divers-down" flag must be removed when scuba divers or snorkelers are not in the water.

Other Equipment and Local Regulations

Trailers

Florida law requires the following for boat trailers.

Trailers must have proper lighting including turn signals, tail lights, and brake lights.
Trailers must be equipped with safety chains and tie-down straps.
Trailers weighing more than 3,000 lbs. must be equipped with brakes that act on all wheels.
Trailers weighing less than 2,000 lbs. must be registered with the county tax collector. Trailers weighing 2,000 lbs. or more must be registered and titled.

Marine Permits

All tournaments, regattas, races, parades, and exhibitions must have a permit from a county sheriff or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Permits must be secured at least 15 days prior to the event. Permission for events on federally-controlled waters must be obtained from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Local Regulations

Many waterways in Florida have special regulations such as size and horsepower restrictions. Check with the governing body of the county or municipality where the waterway is located before you go boating.

Liveries (Boat/PWC Rental Facilities)

Facilities that rent vessels and persons who rent from these facilities must follow these regulations.

The facility is prohibited from renting a vessel that does not have the proper safety equipment, exceeds the recommended horsepower or load capacity, or is not seaworthy.
The facility must provide pre-rental or pre-ride instruction on the safe operation of the vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more.
All renters who are required by law to have a boater education ID card must present the card or its equivalent before the facility may rent to him or her.
PWC liveries must not rent to anyone under the age of 18 years.
PWC liveries must provide instruction to renters.
PWC liveries must inform renters of the following safety information on the proper operation of a PWC: propulsion, steering, and stopping characteristics of jet pump vessels; the location and content of warning labels; how to reboard a PWC; the applicability of the navigation rules to PWC operation; problems with seeing and being seen by other boaters; reckless operation; and noise, nuisance, and environmental concerns.

PWC Livery Instruction to Renters

PWC liveries must provide instruction to renters on:

Operational characteristics of the PWC to be rented
Safe vessel operation and vessel right-of-way rules
Responsibility of the operator, and safe and proper operation of the vessel
Local characteristics of the waterway where the vessel will be used

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