Special Buoys:

Diving Buoy;

• marks an area where SCUBA Diving activities are in progress,
  
• is coloured white and displays a red flag (not less than 50 centimetres, about 20" - square shape) with a white diagonal stripe extending from the tip of the hoist to the bottom of the fly,
  
• if it has a light, it is yellow and flashing (once every four seconds),
  

Hazard Buoy;

• marks random hazards (such as rocks & shoals),
  
• is coloured white with an orange diamond (on two opposite sides) with two horizontal orange bands, one above and one below the orange diamond shape.  The hazard may be illustrated within the diamond shape.
  
• if it has a light, it is yellow and flashing (once every four seconds),
  

Keep-Out Buoy;

• marks an area where all boats are prohibited,
  
• is coloured white with an orange diamond containing an orange cross (on two opposite sides) with two horizontal orange bands, one above and one below the diamond shape.
  
• if it has a light, it is yellow and flashing (once every four seconds),
  

Swimming Buoy;

• marks the perimeter of a bathing-beach or swimming area,
  
• is coloured white,
  
• if it has a light, it is yellow and flashing (once every four seconds),
  

For tips about swimming safely from an Ocean or Great Lakes beach,  please click on the poster at left.  Tips brought to you courtesy of our friends at the National Weather Service (NOAA)