Denzel James Dockery invented the now familiar red and white dive flag in the early 1950s. Denzel James Dockery was a tinker and entrepreneur. In 1953 he followed instructions published in popular

science magazine and build his own scuba unit.

He began experimenting with ways to make a living in this new sport. Dockery find that he need a warning flag to keep boats at safe distance to him and his students.

As Dockery had served in the U.S. Navy, he was familiar withDenzel James Dockery the red signal flag that is commonly used to sign danger. The Navy Bravo Flag is solid red.

In order to make his flag distinctive, he decided to make a modification. His wife Ruth sewed a white stripe across the middle of it. First their stripe was horizontal in the center from left to right side.

The problem with their design was that this Flag was already the Flag of Austria. It was a national flag so they could not use it. They needed something else. The vertical white stripe was out since that is Navy Numerical Flag 7. After analysing the matter, they decided to make the stripe diagonal. The Dive Flag as it is known today by millions worldwide was born. Inventing a flag is one thing but, getting it used and recognized is another thing.

More important than his role in creating the Diving Flag was his engagemont for it. Dockery began selling Diving Flags and promoted the use. In 1956, the flag got a major boost. Ted Nixon from U.S. Divers started buying them from him and distributing them nationally. Nixon was instrumental in the Dive Flag widespread and adoption. People mistakenly credited Nixon with inventing the flag.

Another boost came from Skin Diver magazine. They mentioned Dockery's flag in a September 1957 editorial. Readers were ask to send in their thoughts on the design. In February 1958, they declared the discussion closed. The Michigan Divers Flag was the choise of the reader's.

In addition to promoting it among divers, he was successful. Michigan became the first state in the US with a diver flag law. Thanks to what he started, the government and almost every state worldwide officially recognizes Dockery's flag as the official warning sign.

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