, Website and Dive News Wire E-Mail Deveolped by, Attn: Dive Watch Collectors Special Spring Deal on The Collectors Guide To Dive Watches, JAWS Just Add Water Solutions Announces NEW DEALER SPECIAL, Free Shipping, Bonus Product as Part of LITAS DEMA Show Special. As a code signal the International maritime signal flag Alpha (or "Alfa", signifying the letter "A") has the meaning of "I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed",[1] used to indicate the presence of a diver in the water and is used in all countries other than the United States, Canada, sometimes Italy, and countries within the US's diving culture sphere of influence such as certain countries within the Caribbean. Gold stars are placed above the blue stars or to the top right of the flag, in the event a flag represents multiple servicemembers. On Sept. 24, 1917, an Ohio congressman read the following into the Congressional Record: The mayor of Cleveland, the Chamber of Commerce and the governor of Ohio have adopted this service flag.

OPR"5 =/&TAD"& 7@ tXgcWfK8.i~kR7-uJ-E*)8a'8TQ5%qOs ,.#KIo2e!d8iwAn ]x$gJ(MY/BNQ4_zmD"HeAtBElUT2MlH:XiV/F. Kicking up sand or sediment with fins can also injure coral polyps and sponges. 70 S. Val Vista #A3-224 Click here to post the first comment. There may also be a larger zone around the flag where no boats are allowed to pass. Cathy Churchs Photo Centre on Grand Cayman is looking for another U/W Photo instructor. JPY () 0000002587 00000 n Many Blue Star dive shops offer regular conservation activities. 0000002342 00000 n

0000002308 00000 n Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects the spectacular marine resources that draw an estimated 700,000 divers and snorkelers each year. - - Please Choose - - Reef assessments and information from local dive operators cataloged everything from sofas and refrigerators to pipes and busted lobster traps littering the reef tract and backcountry flats. 34 0 obj <> endobj Divers can cause abrasions that remove the protective mucous layer, leaving corals susceptible to disease and predation. Catering to divers and snorkelers enjoying the coral reefs within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is an elite group of dive and snorkel charter operators with a purpose dedicating their daily business to coral reef education and conservation. Internationally, the code flag alfa/alpha, which is white and blue, is used to signal that the vessel has a diver down and other vessels should keep well clear at slow speed. Virtual Divers International Foundation Members Receive First Free Upgrade! The Department of Defense authorized the service flag and service lapel on Dec. 1, 1967, with DoD Directive 1348.1, which implemented an act of Congress (U.S. Code 179-182). Trained staff members are committed to promoting responsible tourism, aimed at teaching in-water etiquette such as the rules of sanctuary-protected areas, reef fish identification, practicing good buoyancy, taking care in placement of hands and fins, and avoiding touching or standing on coral. 36 0 obj<>stream We use MailChimp as our marketing automation platform. Instructor Divemaster The postal employee will not take responsibility for the error and the person who received it, has decided to keep it rather than bring it to my home address. Equipment/Manufacturing

Blue Star operators are doing their part by offering special debris-removal trips, during which customers can help clean up the sanctuary. Blue Star operators work hard to help customers become better environmental stewards. Exclusive from Weston Signs Inc. our mini ripped metal graphics are designed and produced in house using the highest quality materials on the market. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at Editor@DiveNewswire.com.

Click and drag to re-position the image, if desired. Indo Aggressor Resumes Diving in Komodo National Park. And thats where the Blue Star program comes in. Responsible diving is common practice to encourage visitors to help lessen stress on coral reefs while enjoying their beauty. flag dive decal diver reflective helmet tall wide very It was very slow in arriving, however. Travel Agent

As Americans support troops deployed overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, , the Blue Star Service Banner is a reminder that war touches every neighborhood. The American Legion also offers Blue Star Banner Corporate Flags for corporations and government organizations wanting to show support for employees actively serving in the National Guard or reserve. A range of factors is stressing the reefs in the Keys, including overuse by uninformed or irresponsible visitors.

His banner quickly became the unofficial symbol for parents with a child in active military service. In November 2015, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary marks 25 years of dedication to protecting the world's third-largest barrier reef and the waters surrounding the island chain. I live in Florida and absolutely love to photograph locally. Looking for design inspiration? Blue Force Fleet Seeks UW Videographers and Photographers, InDEPTH Staffs Up in Bid for World Domination, Diving Author Paul Mila Releases Sixth Suspense Thriller FUGITIVE IN PARADISE. Captured on a breezy Florida day, this 16-foot flag with its red background and white diagonal stripe sends a signal to all those who SCUBA dive. Doing so means youll be selecting an operator dedicated to education and coral-reef conservation. DiveNewswire.com

Today the red and white flag is so strictly associated with scuba diving in North America that it is also used to indicate a place where there are services for divers, for example stores selling or renting diving equipment or scuba service stations. Explorer Ventures Super Sale: Your ticket to paradise, Exceptional deals on escorted trips to Papua New Guinea, the Maldives, and French Polynesia, Indigo Safaris Exclusive Trips With Underwater Photography Coaching, Amy Garrow Joins Caribbean Dive Tours Team, United Airlines Adds Non-Stop Denver to Roatan Flight from Just $434, RAID Opens New Office in the Maldives AND Announces A Key Strategic Partnership, NAUI Partners With Force Blue to Create OUTPOST Program Across the Country, The Diver Medic Unveils Freediving Emergency Medical Responder Course, More Than 1,300 Dive Professionals Participate in SSI Online Ecology Instructor Programs, Sea of Change Foundation Launches Online Boutique, 100% of Sales Donated to Conservation & Education, Earth Day 2021 Sea of Change Foundation Promotes Sustainable Sun Protection, Stream2Sea Founder Autumn Blum Creates Eco-conscious Hand Sanitizer and Saves her company amidst COVID-19, Stream2Sea Teams Up with Shark Allies to Educate Against Shark Oil in Cosmetics. We take great pride in the fact that hundreds of thousands of artists have chosen Pixels to fulfill their orders, and we look forward to helping you select your next piece! Copyright 2022 Pixels.com - All Rights Reserved. Mobbys Introduces New Line of Drysuits Exclusively For Rec-Tec Divers, SCUBAPRO Introduces GO BCD Lightweight and Travel-Friendly, Fourth Element Launches The Dive Industrys Most Innovative Products for 2022, Shearwater Announces the Release of the Perdix 2 & Petrel 3 Dive Computers, SCUBAPRO Releases its Premier Technical Diving Regulator with Upgrades to Enhance Protection, RAID Partners with SANTI Diving, Launches Dry Suit Specialty Course, KISS Sidewinder Sidemount CCR is a Real Game Changer- Order Yours Today at Cave Adventurers, SeaLife Launches New Android App for Popular SportDiver Smartphone Underwater Housing, SeaLife Introduces New Ultra Wide Angle Dome Lens for Micro-Series Cameras, New SeaLife Micro 3.0 Receives Strong Response Following Introduction, Lighthouse Diving Center Seeks Life Support Technician. There are no comments for Dive Flag with Ultra Blue Sky 00285c. That, and I spend an inordinate amount of time with bare feet, preferably in the sand somewhere [wink]. As divers explore Sanctuary, many unintentionally come into contact with the reef by touching, kicking, or dragging gear.

These include cleaning up marine debris, hunting invasive lionfish, or partnering with local nonprofit organizations likeCoral Restoration Foundation and Mote Marine Laboratory to re-establish live corals. The size was just as expected and the artwork was well done! 0000005684 00000 n Our grandson is very pleased with history shirt. M~ U1Ve|0oW~a6H7_M To meet Blue Star program requirements, operators must train all staff on the importance of coral reef ecosystems, diving and snorkeling etiquette, and the rules and regulations of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Non-dive Media Why do you dive? endstream endobj 35 0 obj<> endobj 37 0 obj<> endobj 38 0 obj<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/ExtGState<>>> endobj 39 0 obj<> endobj 40 0 obj<> endobj 41 0 obj[/ICCBased 50 0 R] endobj 42 0 obj<> endobj 43 0 obj<> endobj 44 0 obj<> endobj 45 0 obj<>stream Its an American tradition to display a Blue Star Service Banner in the window of a home when a loved one is proudly serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. 0000000016 00000 n Love the shirt. SSI Offers 5 Ways to Increase Your Breath-Hold, NAUI Announces Title Sponsorship of Spear Life on the Outdoor Channel and World Fishing Network, Team America Earns Bronze Medal, Breaks Records Ranking 7th of 30 Nations at 2019 World Freediving Championships, US Freediving Federations TEAM AMERICA Breaks National Records During Preparation for World Championships, Nominations for 2022 Diving Community Champions Award Now Open, DEMA-Sponsored Education Sessions Start September 27th, DEMA Releases Results from DEMA Show Consumer Survey, Survey Ends Friday: Participate in the 2022 Retail Task Validation Survey, PADI AWARE Launches Adopt the Blue Program to Protect 30% of the Ocean by 2030, Sea of Change Awards 2022 Marine Veterinary Scholarship to Auburn Student, Over $150K of PADI AWARE Grants Empower Local Communities to Take Action and Save the Ocean, Reef Renewal Curaao announces Tripp Funderburk as New Manager, PADI Torchbearers Remove More Than 3,000 Pounds of Trash From Catalina Island In One Day, SSI Training Centers in Georgia Clean Up Lake Allatoona To Make Lasting Impression, Aggressor Adventures Partners With Savannah Riverkeeper To Remove Savannah River Debris, Diving Guests at Turquoise Bay Resort Roatan Can Give Back Through Coral Restoration Dives, Key West Officials Ban Sale of Certain Sunscreens to Protect Coral, Palau Signs Legislation to Ban Oxybenzone and related Sunscreen Chemicals to Protect Reefs, DEMA Dive Industry Alert: Florida Fish/Wildlife Commission to Hold Workshops on Shore-based Shark Fishing, Bonaire Joins Hawaii in Approving Ban on Sunscreen Products Containing Oxybenzone, Shark Angels World Oceans Day Auction 2022 Launches, Aggressor Adventures Announces New Conservation Adventure in Roatan with the Sea of Change Foundation, AWARE Week 2021: Advancing PADIs Save the Ocean Mission, Celebrate World Ocean Day with SSI Are You Doing These 10 Things to Be a More Environmental Conscious Diver, DEMA Seeks Candidates for 2022 Wave Makers Award, DEMA Members, Register for DEMA Show 2022 by September 26th and Receive Early Bird Rates, Florida Keys Blue Star Charter Operators Promote Responsible Diving and Snorkeling, floridakeys.noaa.gov/onthewater/bluestar.html, Important Industry Safety Alert - Federal Standards and Regulations Mean Something, Mobby's Introduces New Line of Drysuits Exclusively For Rec-Tec Divers. To find a list of Blue Star operators or express interest in becoming a Blue Star operator, click here. In North America it is conventionally red with a white stripe from the upper left corner to the lower right corner. SIv2Y`n^V}eMazTOfz*5kSN#bszJ$ OT#WS Y[toMUuYtMSoA6W].-"cNoa(5kza']3 QLoJ1g@hHI

500psi EXTENDS DEMA 2021 Show Special for a Limited Time! Browse our curated collections! We will treat your information with respect.

Blue Star operators also incorporate a conservation-related specialty course such as underwater naturalist, reef fish identification or buoyancy control as part of their offerings to divers and snorkelers. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects the only living barrier reef in the U.S. To dive it, choose an operator in the Blue Star program who promotes responsible and sustainable practices. The program, started in 2009, has become so successful that it is expanding to fishing guides this year. I have been told I have an eye for what most people do not see--the unusual and interesting amidst the ordinary. AUD ($) Legion: Senate action on PACT Act absolutely unacceptable, VA helps bridge digital divide for veterans, Senate passes historic burn pit legislation, Job fairs online and in-person draw hundreds of job seekers, Career event set for Aug. 25 in conjunction with national convention, American Legion, Hiring Our Heroes presenting job fair for Virginia-area military community July 14, Save the date: credentialing summit Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at national convention, Legion, Hiring Our Heroes presenting July job fair in D.C. area, Legionnaire delivers academic support to Ukrainian refugees, Access to capital a hurdle for veteran entrepreneurs, Legislation proposed to clear up confusion about GI Bill eligibility for children and spouses of troops, American Legion testifies on securing high-demand jobs for veterans, Legion to Senate: Stay until PACT Act is passed, Senator introduces American Legion-supported bill to modernize VA medical centers, other infrastructure, New York Legion Riders chapter raises funds to assist veterans impacted by toxic exposures, OCW comes through for nonprofit assisting disabled veterans through paddle sports, Legion Family celebrates April as Children & Youth Month, Operation Comfort Warriors event shatters record, Students get eye-opening trip to D.C., thanks to the Ohio American Legion, Paddle board gets injured veteran active in the ocean, A fitting tribute to trailblazers and visionaries, All-womens Legion post celebrates 75 years of service, Maternal health care for veterans gets boost, Order Online Blue Star Banner from Emblem Sales. 34 17 Since Blue Star's inception in 2010, nearly 20 operators have become members. Two styles of flag are in use. Frequent breakage of coral due to diver impacts challenges the growth of the reef as a whole. With so many visitors, environmental stewardship is imperative. Curaao speaks to the curious explorer in all of us at Scuba Digital 2021! [6] Usually the regulations require divers to display the flag while diving and to stay within a specified area when they are near the surface. They are dedicated to adhering to the program's coral reef education and conservation standards and including Blue Star program messaging through onboard dive briefings and student certification programs. Blue Starcertified charter operators voluntarily train with the governmental agency to help educate and reduce the impact of divers and snorkelers on the only contiguous living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. The only living barrier reef in the continental U.S. surrounds a chain of islands at the southernmost tip of Florida. Scuba Diver Life Its boundaries stretch from Biscayne National Park near Miami to the Dry Tortugas, 70 miles west of Key West. The purpose of the flags is to notify to any other boats to steer clear for the safety of the diver and to avert the possibility of a collision with the dive boat which may be unable to maneuver out of the way. FLORIDA KEYS Catering to divers and snorkelers enjoying the coral reefs within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is an elite group of dive and snorkel charter operators with a purpose. 0000005911 00000 n

Dive Resort Divers and snorkelers can become Blue Star Partners by attending a reef etiquette briefing or watching a reef etiquette educational video highlighting responsible diver practices. To strike a balance between the environment and the economy, the sanctuary, with National Marine Sanctuary Foundation support, established the Blue Star program to recognize dive and snorkel businesses that promote responsible and sustainable practices. Administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and jointly managed with the state of Florida, the sanctuary protects 2,900 square nautical miles of waters. Dive Retailer I shoot what speaks to me and I am a part of each photo I take.

Coastal communities all over the world depend on coral reefs as well, for food, protection, and jobs. Rock band Van Halen used the red and white flag as the cover art of their 1982 album Diver Down.

FIRST TEXAS-BASED SCUBA DIVING PODCAST LAUNCHES: THE DIVE TABLE, Diventures Begins Construction on New Swim and Scuba Aquatics Training Facility in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Salt and Sea Scuba Opens Full-Service PADI Dive Center in HOT Phoenix Market, Diventures Announces Another Transformational Geographic Expansion with the Acquisition of Scuba Professionals of Arizona, Don Peterson Becomes First Scuba Diver to be Inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, PSI-PCI Family Mourns the Passing of Roy Gresham, Dive Industry Mourns Industry Veteran Peter Oliver, Master Live Aboards Announces the Passing of Martin Cridge, Captain of Truk Master, Dive Industry Mourns James Herndon, Founder of scuba.com, PADI Womens Dive Day 2022 Plan an Event to Create Ocean Change on 16 July.

0000000636 00000 n Blue Star operators also incorporate a conservation-related specialty course such as underwater naturalist, reef fish identification or buoyancy control as part of their offerings to divers and snorkelers. Since Blue Stars inception in 2010, over 20 operators have become members. Barefoot Girl Images Photography started as a concept of the photographer I am and also want to be. [5] It can be placed on a boat or on a surface marker buoy. (Photo credit: Matt McIntosh/NOAA), This post is by a guest blogger. xb```f``:Y @1V q8&c%gN*t8eK`Q%m*T8c$Hol``0x00(7EW4ExX?~g`sAkrvy/8OH35@ 5^

xref TDI kicks off Mission Tech, The Ultimate Tech Dive Demo Event, July 15, 2017, Shearwater Research Introduces The Shearwater Cloud, Inner Space 2015: Divetech Celebrates the World of Rebreathers in Grand Cayman, DAN, PSI-PCI Promote Scuba Cylinder Safety, WRSTC Endorses New Medical Screening System, Disinfection of Scuba Equipment and COVID-19, SSI Expands Global MyDiveGuide Network Non-SSI Affiliated Dealers Invited to Register as MyDiveGuide Partners, SSI Stores Increase Profits Through Participating in Master Diver Challenge, There is still time left in NAUIs Social Media Contest, Parineeti Chopra Teams Up with PADI to Create Ocean Change, Boston Sea Rovers Announces Speakers for 2022 Event, PSI-PCI Training at the Boston Sea Rovers Show, Mayan Princess, Turquoise Bay Resorts Unveil AIR-INCLUSIVE Packages, Dive Curacao Promotes Ocean Encounters and Go West Diving at SCUBA Show This Weekend, Sea of Change, Florida Prepaid College Foundations Wayne Hasson Legacy Scholarship Deadline Extended, History of Diving Museums Spook-tacular Costume Contest, History of Diving Museum Begins Vintage Diving and Maritime-Themed Book Sale, Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival to Encourage Reef Protection, Get Freediving-Ready for the Summer!