What is the appearance of the Alpha flag?

• A. Left half white, right half blue with a triangular cut out
• B. All white
• C. All blue
• D. Red with a white diagonal stripe

Answer: (A)

This flag is identified by its two-tone split with a distinctive notch: the left half is white, the right half blue, and there is a triangular cut-out on the boundary between the colors. This white-on-left, blue-on-right pattern with the triangular notch is how Alpha is designed to look, making it stand out in any conditions. In practice, Alpha is used to signal that the vessel has a diver down and that other vessels should keep well clear at slow speed. The other described appearances—solid white, solid blue, or red with a white diagonal stripe—do not match Alpha’s two-tone design.