It's the Law: On the Water

Diver-Down Flag   (66-12-10 NMSA 1978; BAR 15.7)

• 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.

Illustrations	Types of Flags
	Divers Flag A rectangular red flag with a white diagonal stripe is required on state waters.
	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.

Skier-Down Flag   (BAR 13.2)

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.