Florida Statute 327.331 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XXIV
VESSELS

Chapter 327
VESSEL SAFETY

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F.S. 327.331

327.331 Divers; definitions; divers-down warning device required; obstruction to navigation of certain waters; penalty.—

(1) As used in this section:

(a) “Diver” means a person who is wholly or partially submerged in the waters of the state and is equipped with a face mask and snorkel or underwater breathing apparatus.

(b) “Divers-down buoy” means a buoyant device, other than a vessel, which displays a divers-down symbol on three or four flat sides.

1. Is square or rectangular and has a divers-down symbol on each face.

2. Has white diagonal stripes on each face which begin at the top, staff-side of the flag and extend diagonally to the lower opposite corner.

3. If rectangular, is of a length that is not less than the height or more than 25 percent longer than the height.

4. Has a wire, or other stiffener, or is otherwise constructed to ensure that it remains fully unfurled and extended in the absence of a wind or breeze.

(d) “Divers-down symbol” means a rectangular or square red symbol with a white diagonal stripe. If rectangular, the length may not be less than the height or more than 25 percent longer than the height. The width of the stripe must be 25 percent of the height of the symbol and the stripes must be oriented in the same direction if multiple stripes are displayed.

(e) “Divers-down warning device” means a divers-down flag, buoy, or other similar warning device that:

1. Contains a divers-down symbol that is at least 12 inches by 12 inches in dimension when displayed from the water or at least 20 by 24 inches in dimension when displayed from a vessel;

2. Is designed for, and used by, divers and dive vessels as a means to notify nearby boaters of the presence of a diver in the waters of the immediate area; and

3. Is prominently visible when in use.

(f) “Underwater breathing apparatus” means any apparatus, whether self-contained or connected to a distant source of air or other gas, whereby a person wholly or partially submerged in water is enabled to obtain or reuse air or any other gas or gases for breathing without returning to the surface of the water.

(2) All divers must prominently display a divers-down warning device in the area in which the diving occurs, other than when diving in an area customarily used for swimming only. A divers-down buoy may not be used or displayed onboard a vessel.

(3) A diver or group of divers may not display one or more divers-down warning devices on a river, inlet, or navigation channel, except in case of emergency, in a manner that unreasonably constitutes a navigational hazard.

(4) Divers shall make reasonable efforts to stay within 100 feet of a divers-down warning device on rivers, inlets, and navigation channels. A person operating a vessel on a river, inlet, or navigation channel must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 100 feet from any divers-down warning device.

(5) Divers must make reasonable efforts to stay within 300 feet of a divers-down warning device on all waters other than rivers, inlets, and navigation channels. A person operating a vessel on waters other than a river, inlet, or navigation channel must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from any divers-down warning device.

(6) A vessel other than a law-enforcement or rescue vessel that approaches within 100 feet of a divers-down warning device on a river, inlet, or navigation channel, or within 300 feet of a divers-down warning device on waters other than a river, inlet, or navigation channel, must proceed no faster than is necessary to maintain headway and steerageway.

(7) A divers-down warning device may not be displayed once all divers are aboard or ashore. A person may not operate any vessel displaying a divers-down warning device unless the vessel has one or more divers in the water.

(8) A divers-down warning device displayed from a vessel must be displayed from the highest point of the vessel or another location that ensures that the visibility of the divers-down warning device is not obstructed from any direction.

(9) Except as provided in s. 327.33, a violation of this section is a noncriminal infraction punishable as provided in s. 327.73.

History.—ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 74-344; s. 64, ch. 74-383; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 1, ch. 86-35; ss. 7, 8, ch. 2000-362; s. 1, ch. 2014-138; s. 1, ch. 2016-171.

Note.—Former s. 861.065.

F.S. 327.331 on Google Scholar

F.S. 327.331 on Casetext

Amendments to 327.331

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 327.331

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S327.331 - HEALTH-SAFETY - NON-CRIMINAL INFRACTION 2000-362 - N: N

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 327.331

Total Results: 20

ECOVIRUX LLC, etc. v. BIOPLEDGE LLC, etc.

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2022-11-16

Snippet: mandatory. See Weisser v. PNC Bank, N.A., 967 So. 2d 327, 331 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); Gold Crown Resort, 272 So

Kim Jackson v. State of Florida & Kim Jackson v. Ricky D. Dixon, etc.

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2022-06-30

Snippet: property,” Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 331 (1986), and hence “the Due Process Clause

HOLLY BONDAR and ALEXANDER BONDAR v. TOWN OF JUPITER INLET COLONY

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2021-05-05

Snippet: (1992) (quoting Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 331 (1986)). “As a general matter, the Court has always

D.D. v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-08-10

Citation: 253 So. 3d 121

Snippet: the record); see also Hicks v. State, 41 So.3d 327, 331 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010) (finding ineffective assistance

D. D. v. STATE OF FLORIDA

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-08-10

Snippet: the record); see also Hicks v. State, 41 So. 3d 327, 331 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010) (finding ineffective assistance

SHIVA STEIN v. BBX CAPITAL CORP.

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-03-21

Citation: 241 So. 3d 874

Snippet: v. Estate of Lawson ex rel. Lawson, 175 So. 3d 327, 331 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015) (en banc). “Section 607

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report 2017-09.

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-03-08

Citation: 238 So. 3d 192

Snippet: applicable and insert additional instructions from § 327.331, Fla. Stat. as necessary. A vessel

Lois Vance v. Okaloosa-Walton Urology, P.A., etc.

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2017-11-06

Citation: 228 So. 3d 1199, 2017 WL 5076898

Snippet: & Clinics, Inc. v. Estate of Lawson, 175 So.3d 327, 331 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015) (en banc). “Courts must look

Joanne McCall, Senator Geraldine etc. v. Rick Scott, Governor of Florida, etc.

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2016-08-16

Citation: 199 So. 3d 359, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 12301, 2016 WL 4362399

Snippet: Estate of Lawson ex rel. Lawson, 175 So.3d 327, 331 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015) (en banc). Examining the allegations

Agile Assurance Group Ltd. v. Palmer

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-05-23

Citation: 147 So. 3d 1017, 38 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 721, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 7849, 2014 WL 2151971

Snippet: (quoting Weisser v. PNC Bank, N.A., 967 So.2d 327, 331-32 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007)). In this case, we must

TECO Barge Line, Inc. v. Hagan

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2009-07-31

Citation: 15 So. 3d 863, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 10711, 2009 WL 2341631

Snippet: disagreed with by Weisser v. PNC Bank, N.A., 967 So.2d 327, 331 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007) ("We do not agree with the

MARTELUS v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2008-04-16

Citation: 979 So. 2d 1137, 2008 WL 1733587

Snippet: statement. See also Maguire v. United States, 396 F.2d 327, 331 (9th Cir.1968); People v. Sandoval, 736 P.2d 1201

State v. Robinson

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2004-03-18

Citation: 873 So. 2d 1205, 2004 WL 524922

Snippet: (1998) (quoting Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 331, 106 S.Ct. 662, 88 L.Ed.2d 662 (1986)). This case

Sierra v. Associated Marine Institutes, Inc.

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2003-06-18

Citation: 850 So. 2d 582, 2003 WL 21393941

Snippet: at 988-89 (citing Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 331, 106 S.Ct. 662, 88 L.Ed.2d 662 (1986)).[5] Nevertheless

Doe v. America Online, Inc.

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2001-03-08

Citation: 783 So. 2d 1010, 2001 WL 228446

Snippet: boards." Zeran v. America Online, Inc., 129 F.3d 327, 331 (4th Cir.1997) ((emphasis quoted) quoted in majority

Crocker v. Pleasant

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2001-02-01

Citation: 778 So. 2d 978, 2001 WL 81770

Snippet: '" Id. (quoting Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 331, 106 S.Ct. 662, *983 88 L.Ed.2d 662 (1986)). In

Advanced Mobilehome Systems of Tampa, Inc. v. Alumax Fabricated Products, Inc.

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1995-11-08

Citation: 666 So. 2d 166, 28 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 91, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 11675

Snippet: Industries Corp. v. Carnac Textiles, Inc., 45 N.Y.2d 327, 331, 380 N.E.2d 239, 240, 408 N.Y.S.2d 410, 411-412

ADV. MOBILEHOME SYS. v. Alumax

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1995-11-08

Citation: 666 So. 2d 166

Snippet: Industries Corp. v. Carnac Textiles, Inc., 45 N.Y.2d 327, 331, 380 N.E.2d 239, 240, 408 N.Y.S.2d 410, 411-412

Wayne Creasy Agency, Inc. v. Maillard

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1992-08-11

Citation: 604 So. 2d 1235, 1992 Fla. App. LEXIS 8623, 1992 WL 191633

Snippet: 1985); see also Van Meter v. Kelsey, 91 So.2d 327, 331 (Fla. 1956); Bethea v. Langford, 45 So.2d 496

Snyder v. BOARD OF COUNTY COM'RS

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1991-12-12

Citation: 595 So. 2d 65, 1991 WL 259950

Snippet: Fleming v. City of Tacoma, 81 Wash.2d 292, 502 P.2d 327, 331 (1972). [49] Cooper v. Bd. of County Comm'rs