Collision Regulations:  (Rules of the Road)

Maintain a Proper Lookout:

The Collision Regulations require all pleasure craft operators to maintain a proper lookout, (all around the vessel), by sight & by hearing, using every available means to make a full appraisal of any situation to determine if the risk of collision exists.  Know the signals exhibited by vessels "not under-command" - meaning they cannot get out of your way - such as the boat at right displaying the blue & white, Alpha Flag.

Yielding (giving way) to larger or less manoeuvreable vessels isn't just being polite, it's obeying the Law.

The Collision Regulations forbid all pleasure craft, (powerboats, sailboats or human-powered boats), that are under 20 metres in length, from impeding (making difficult), the passage of vessels which can only navigate safely, by staying within the narrow channel, or traffic lane.)  If you hear five blasts from an oncoming vessel's horn, it means Danger; get out of the way!

• Stay clear of shipping lanes (freighters are travelling much faster than you may suspect, especially dangerous for sailboats & human-powered boats, slowly crossing shipping lanes)
  
• Stay with a group of boats whenever possible (to be more visible).
  
• Stay clear of docked or transiting ferries, vessels under tow, and working fishing vessels.
  
• Familiarize yourself with the special yellow light and white masthead lights displayed by towboats (so as to avoid becoming entangled between a tug and its tow).
  

Shown above (attached to the Scuba Diver), is the red & white diving buoy - from the Canadian Private Buoy Regulations.  All vessels are required to stay well clear, at slow speed.
The pleasure craft above is exhibiting the blue & white, Code Flag A (alpha) - from the International Code of Signals.
It too indicates that diving activities are in progress.  Pleasure craft displaying code flag A, are considered to be "not under command", since it cannot get out of the way of any vessels that might otherwise have the right of way.
Keep a sharp lookout for bubbles; a diver may get separated from his or her "buddy" and surface some distance from the dive-boat or diving buoy.

Large vessels, often a tour boat, or burdened vessels, such as towboats with a tow, require clear, unimpeded passage through a narrow channel, or traffic lane.  They will usually announce their approach on VHF radio, channel 16, (spoken word, sécurité) several minutes before approaching a blind-turn or a narrow channel.  Watch and listen for them - before entering a narrow channel or traffic lane.  If you see or hear that one is coming,, hold back until the passage is clear.  If you are already well within the channel yourself, advise the approaching vessel right away.  If you can't make radio contact,  and there is danger - use your horn, sound 5 blasts (the danger signal);  it may be able to slow, or hold back until you are clear.  Otherwise, keep as far to the right as possible.

All pleasure craft operators are required to apply the International Regulations for preventing collisions at sea, and the Canadian Modifications, on the high seas (oceans) & all connected navigable waters, as described in the Collision Regulations.