Diver-Down Flags

Persons scuba diving, skin diving, or snorkeling in Nevada waters must display a diver-down flag to mark their diving area. Vessels not engaged in diving operations must remain at least 100 feet from the diver-down flag, except in the case of an emergency. Vessels not engaged in diving operations must reduce speed to “no wake speed” if within a distance of 100 to 200 feet of the diver-down flag, except in the case of an emergency.

Scuba divers, skin divers, and snorkelers in Nevada waters must display a divers flag and stay within 100 feet of the flag. The flag must be in place only while diving operations are in progress. If diving between sunset and sunrise, the flag must be illuminated.

Scuba divers and snorkelers should not place a flag in an area already occupied by other boaters or where their diving operation will impede the normal flow of waterway traffic. Divers also should follow all of the water safety rules themselves.

Two types of flags are used to indicate diving activity.

Divers Flag: A rectangular red flag, at least 12 x 12 inches in size, with a white diagonal stripe (at least 1/5 the width of the flag) may be attached to a vessel, float, or buoy. The flag must be illuminated if used between sunset and sunrise.

Alfa Flag: A blue-and-white International Code Flag A (or Alfa flag), at least 3.3 feet (one meter) high and visible from all directions, must be displayed on vessels on federally controlled waters. This flag indicates that the vessel is involved in a diving activity.