(625 ILCS 45/5-19) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 315-14)
Sec. 5-19.
Skin diving.
(A) 1. No person may engage in underwater diving or swimming with the use
of swimming fins or skin diving in waters other than marked swimming areas
or within 150 feet of shoreline.
2. No person may engage in underwater diving or swimming with the use of
self-contained underwater breathing apparatus in waters other than marked
swimming areas, unless the location of such diving or swimming is
distinctly marked by a diver's flag, not less than 12 inches high and 15
inches long, displaying one diagonal white stripe 3 inches wide on a red
background, and of a height above the water so as to be clearly
apparent at
a distance of 100 yards under normal conditions, and so designed and
displayed as to be visible from any point on the horizon.
3. Except in case of emergency, anyone engaging in such diving or
swimming shall not rise to the surface outside of a radius of 50 feet
from such flag.
4. No person engaged in such diving or swimming shall interfere with the
operation of anyone fishing, nor engage in such diving or swimming in
established traffic lanes; nor shall any person acting alone, or with
another, intentionally or unintentionally block or obstruct any boat in any
manner from proceeding to its destination where a reasonable alternative is
unavailable. A reasonable alternative route is available when the
otherwise unobstructed boat can proceed to its destination without reducing
its lawful speed, by passing to the right or to the left of a marked diving
operation.
(B) An alternate flag recognized and approved by the United States Coast
Guard may be substituted for the flag required in subsection (A)2 of this
Section.
(C) No watercraft shall be operated within 150 feet of a diving flag
except for watercraft directly associated with that diving activity.
(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)
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