Red buoys are always even numbered, and green buoys are odd numbered.

Green squares with odd numbers are the equivalent of can buoys; keep this marker on your left side. Red triangles with even numbers are the equivalent of nun buoys; keep this marker on your right side.

These are all-red buoys (also known as Nuns) and all-green buoys (also known as Cans). These are companion buoys that indicate the boating channel is between them. Or, the Red buoy is on your Right side when Returning from the sea or heading toward the headwaters of the body of water.

All-green (also known as Cans) and all-red (also known as Nuns) companion buoys indicate the boating channel is between them. The red buoy is on the right side of the channel when facing upstream.

Black lettering on the buoy or sign gives the reason for the restriction, for example, SWIM AREA. Danger: A white buoy or sign with an orange diamond warns boaters of danger – rocks, dams, rapids, etc. The source of danger will also be lettered in black.

Lateral markers indicate the sides of channels. Safe passage can be found between pairs of green and red buoys.

Because the green light is on the starboard(right) side of your boat, the red is the port(left). So, if you see them both then there is a chance you are looking down the nose of a boat. Two blasts from both means you will be passing on the starboard side.

A green can buoy means pass to the right, and a red nun buoy means pass to the left when moving upstream. A diamond shape with a “T” inside it on a buoy means “keep out.”

Pass “Port to Port” a vessel operating in a river or buoyed channel should with oncoming traffic keep to the starboard (right hand) side. When two vessels are approaching one another head on, they should alter course to starboard (right) and pass as if they were operating in a river or channel.

The Disposal of Toxic Substances The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the discharge of oil or hazardous substances into U.S. waterways. As a result, all boats with fuel-powered engines must keep oils or toxic waste on board the boat.

Five (or more) short, rapid blasts signal danger or signal that you do not understand or that you disagree with the other boater’s intentions.

4.8m.

Columbia River Bar

50S

Stay within 300 feet (90 meters) of the diver down flag or buoy in open water and 100 feet (30 meters) when diving in rivers, inlets or navigation channels.

1 nautical mile

But as you descend, your wetsuit will compress. This decreases your volume, and results in a loss of buoyancy. As you ascend, your wetsuit in addition to the air in your BCD expands, so you need to release air from your BCD to maintain neutral buoyancy.

Please use common sense and courtesy. All vessels must navigate so as to avoid injury to the diver or interference with the vessel or floating object. DoT recommends where possible skippers maintain a distance of more than 100 metres from a vessel or buoy displaying a dive flag.

50 feet

When I swim to the place where I am going to anchor the float, I dive to the bottom and wrap the line around and around a BIG rock and then clip off the line to the reel. Usually the tie-off location is somewhere easy to find. For instance, on a slope at a fixed depth, or a dive platform, etc.

Alpha flag

Snorkelers and divers must display a diver down flag whenever in the water. However, this is not required if the area is usually reserved solely for swimming. The flag’s purpose is to warn nearby boaters of the snorkeler’s presence. Ensure that the flag must be visible from the boat’s highest point from all directions.