Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Other Equipment and Regulations

Diver-Down Flags

Scuba divers and snorkelers must display a diver-down flag to mark their diving area. Divers must stay within a 150-foot radius of the flag. Vessel operators must not operate within 150 feet of a diver-down flag. Two types of flags are used to indicate diving activity.

• A rectangular red flag with a white diagonal stripe is required on state waters.
• 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.

Skier-Down Flag

New Mexico law states that vessels towing person(s) on water skis or other similar devices must carry and use a bright red or orange skier-down flag, at least 12 x 12 inches in size, whenever the towed person(s) is in the water.

Vessels towing person(s) on water skis or similar devices must display a red or orange skier-down flag whenever the towed person(s) is in the water.

Other Equipment

In addition to equipment described elsewhere in this chapter, every vessel must carry:

• One oar or paddle
• One bailing bucket with a capacity of at least one gallon or a hand-operated bilge pump
• A stout rope whose length is at least equal to the length of the vessel

Local Regulations

Local waterways may have specific equipment and operational restrictions in addition to those covered in this chapter. For example, motorized boating is limited to no-wake operation only on Heron Lake and Cochiti Lake. Be sure to check for local regulations before you go boating. Go to www.nmparks.com and click on “Boating” and then “Boating Waters” for specific restrictions by lake.