Flag A (Alfa)

ICS · A code word: Alfa pronounced: AL-FAH Morse: ·−

In short: I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.

Flag A (Alfa)

Single-letter meaning (Pub 102)

I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.

Morse sign

·−

Dot = short sound, dash = long (three times longer). Hear it in the Morse translator.

In plain English

A white and blue swallow-tailed flag. The vessel showing it has a diver in the water: give her a wide berth and slow down, because a propeller and wash are a real danger to the diver.

Where you will really see it

Dive boats, survey vessels and dredgers with a diver down. During underwater operations a rigid replica of flag A is displayed, visible all round the horizon.

Common mix-up

This is not the red flag with a white diagonal stripe used in recreational diving. In international shipping a diver is marked by the white and blue flag A.

Check yourself

What does flag A (Alfa) mean?

Keep going

All signal flags: the search box and the full grid.
Interactive mast: build your own hoist.
Single-letter signals cheat sheet A to Z on one page.

The single-letter meanings are quoted 1:1 from Pub 102 International Code of Signals (NGA, public domain); the plain-English explanations are our own. Flag graphics: signal-flag-images (Unlicense).