What do safe water markers indicate?

Safe water markers indicate unobstructed water where vessels can navigate freely, often allowing for passing on either side of the marker. These markers are typically cylindrical and colored with red and white stripes to help boaters identify safe areas to operate their vessels without hazards. They play a crucial role in ensuring safe navigation by clearly demarcating areas that are free of underwater obstructions and are not designated for swimming or marked as speed limit zones.

Other options refer to different types of markers: obstructions in navigation would pertain to markers indicating hazards, areas designated for swimming would be marked specifically for those activities, and speed limit zones are designated for managing vessel speed in certain areas. Each of these has unique markers, distinguishing them from safe water markers which specifically denote safe passages for navigation.