A couple of diving mates have had their wrists slapped by MPI officials for not following the rules regarding dive flags on floats. Some of the comments were quite petty. One group was even threatened with a fine.

We had a MPI boat cruising around checking a few weeks back..
 They took a count, also checked basic stuff like jackets etc...

 I also noted that there was 1 guy sitting quietly in the back with a little different logos .. a policeman present...which is not unusual these days considering the attitude of some people being checked.
I dont believe most would have noticed the policeman in the back.. logos, uniforms all very much the same.
 Now if this was the case.. then yep a fine would very possibly be on the cards.

Regardless, be it a MPI or another diver or boat, if the rules where being broken, they where being broken...what is the problem of who points it out?
 Whats the point of arguing , red herrings and splitting hairs..?

Steps wrote: Regardless, be it a MPI or another diver or boat, if the rules where being broken, they where being broken...what is the problem of who points it out?  Whats the point of arguing , red herrings and splitting hairs..?

Not sure what you want to know - your link to the rules answers your question...Drawings may be misleading but where are you confused?

Diving or freediving?

If just with a snorkel i believe they cant do bugger all as its more like being a swimmer than diving. (what's the difference between someone at a beach with a snorkel messing around and me getting scallops?).

I do however understand the dive flag thing.. But no way in hecka will I put a dive flag up in my scallop spot x on snake bank. People might raid me spots (taking the chook use your dive flags)

Its a can of worms if its regarding freediving. Either way.. Hard to inforce it when there are so many examples that are fine.

Put a vessel ontop of you is about the safest way to dive. Even then though turkeys rip through within 50m as you are well aware.

The legislation on diving and flags is pretty much focused on boats conducting SCUBA diving operations.

Phantom Menace wrote: The legislation on diving and flags is pretty much focused on boats conducting SCUBA diving operations. The legislation itself makes no mention of shore divers (free or otherwise). The literature / brochures they publish now promote the use of floats and flags for freediving but it's not actually the law.