Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation

Hawai`i Snorkeling & Diving

Technically, any activity in the navigable waters of the State in which a person breaks the surface of the water and submerges out of sight will require the use of a dive flag. The navigable waters include all waters from the high wash of the waves on the shore to three miles out to sea.
HAR 13-245-9 Diver’s Flag (relevant to boaters and divers)

● A “diver’s flag” as defined by rule and measuring not less than twelve inches by twelve inches shall be required to be displayed on the surface of the water by any person or group of persons engaged in free diving or SCUBA diving.
● A diver’s flag measuring not less than twelve inches by twelve inches shall be displayed on the highest point of the main structure of a vessel that is sixteen feet or less in length overall in order to provide an unobstructed view of the diver’s flag from all directions when diving from the vessel.
● A diver’s flag measuring not less than twenty inches by twenty-four inches, shall be displayed on the highest point of the main structure of any vessel that is greater than sixteen feet in length overall in order to provide an unobstructed view of the diver’s flag from all directions when diving from the vessel.
● If snorkeling, free diving, or SCUBA diving is in progress between sunset and sunrise, the diver’s flag shall be clearly illuminated. A diver’s flag is considered clearly illuminated when it is identifiable from at least one hundred feet away.
● There shall be no restriction on subsurface distance from a diver’s flag. However, snorkelers, free divers, and SCUBA divers are prohibited from surfacing more than one hundred feet away from the diver’s flag in the ocean waters of the State and more than fifty feet from the diver’s flag in navigable streams, except in cases of emergencies.
● All vessels shall be prohibited from approaching within one hundred feet of a displayed diver’s flag or within fifty feet of a displayed diver’s flag on navigable streams with the following exceptions:

• Vessels approaching a displayed diver’s flag to conduct SCUBA, snorkeling, or free diving activities within the one hundred foot or fifty-foot restricted area shall be allowed to do so provided that the vessel approaches at a speed of slow-no-wake.
• Vessels approaching a displayed diver’s flag navigating through marked navigation channels are exempt from the distance restriction described in subsection (f) but shall proceed at a speed of slow no-wake through the navigation channel when a diver’s flag is displayed adjacent to the navigation channel.

*A group of snorkelers, free divers, or SCUBA divers with 2 or more individuals may display one dive flag for the entire group, and each diver in the group must stay within 100 feet of that flag. Each individual does not need to display their own flag.