b'B O AT I N G R E G U L AT I O N SEveryvesselmust,undercrowdedconditionsorinreducedbe reflectorized if the flag is to be used at night. It is extremely visibility, slow down and operate with careful regard for existingdangerous and a violation of the law for a diver to surface or swim circumstances and conditions. Actions such as speeding in confinedmore than 50 feet from this flag. No more than four divers may or restricted areas or skiing at prohibited times or in restricted areasuse the same diver flag unless it is displayed from a boat, in which can also be construed as reckless or negligent operation. case the number of divers must be limited to the legal capacity of the boat.Reckless Operation Theblue/whiteALPHAflagisalsousedtoshow Recklessoperationisthefailuretoexercisetheunderwater operations from a vessel in federal waters. It may degree of care necessary to prevent endangering anotherbe used in addition to the states diver down flag. Boaters person or their property. must not come within 100 feet of the dive flag.It is illegal to snorkel or scuba dive from a state boat Hazardous Conditions launch. Enforcementofficerscanterminateavoyageand require the operator of the vessel to return to the nearestWater Skiing and Parasailingmooring if they discover a hazardous condition onboard.Effective October 1, 2015, in order to operate a vessel Theoperatormustthencorrectthisconditionbeforethat is engaged in water skiing you must: proceeding on their way.Be at least 16 years old HoldavalidU.S.CoastGuard-issuedvesseloperator Mooring to Buoys license or a valid boating certificate issued by CT, MA, NH, The only buoys you are permitted to moor to areNY or RImooring buoys. Mooring to a navigation buoy, other aidHaveaConnecticutSafeWaterSkiingEndorsement to navigation, or a regulatory marker is illegal. issued by DEEP.If prior to October 1, 2015, you obtained a valid boating Overloading certificate issued by the USCG, CT, MA, NH, NY, or RI you do Never overload your boat with passengers or cargonot need to obtain a Safe Water Skiing Endorsement. Persons beyond its safe carrying capacity. Capacity labels arewho are younger than 16 years of age, or who do not have a requiredonallvesselslessthan20feetlongandvalid boating certificate issued by the USCG, CT, MA, NH, NY or manufacturedafter1972.TheyareaffixedbytheRI, are not eligible to operate a vessel engaged in water skiing.manufacturer. Connecticut law forbids altering, defacing,Persons who obtain one of the above-described certificates or removing the plate. from a reciprocal state, Connecticut, or the U.S Coast Guard, after October 1, 2015, will be able to obtain the required Safe Water Skiing Endorsement through an online Safe Water Skiing Riding on Decks or Gunwales Course. The link to the course is https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/While underway in a vessel under power, do not rideBoating/Safety/Safe-Waterskiing-Endorsement on the bow, gunwale, transom, or in any position which is obviously dangerous. Riding on or hanging over the bow can interfere with stability and may restrict the operators visibility. No operator of a vessel under power shall allow any person to be on a decked-over bow of such a vessel while underway unless the bow of the vessel is equipped with a handrail that encompasses the bow. All persons on the bow should be inward of such handrail. On vessels under power with open bows not decked-over, no operator shall allow any person to sit or stand on the gunwale of the bow of the vessel. These provisions shall not apply to persons in or on the bow of vessels engaged in anchoring, mooring, or docking activities, and when the vessel is proceeding at a dead slow speed.Diving and Underwater OperationsInConnecticut,anyoneinvolvedinunderwaterswimmingor diving is required to display a clearly visible red flag with a white diagonalstripe.Theflagmustbetwo-sided,notlessthan13 inches high and 15 inches long. The white diagonal stripe must 242023 Connecticut BOATERS GUIDE'