Diving Courtesy

[LRRP02]

As read through this I see a lot of speculation I think this I think that Read the boating laws for Minnesota. Dive flag is needed when training the training area needs to be flaged off with more than one flag. As for tying a flag off and leaving it as long as you surface within 50 feet that is okay.
As for the instructor if he had 8 students and they desended before he did he did not have control of all students all of the time espicially if he didn't have any assistants. Read the general standards for your agency it will state there what is control sure they let you do 8 students at one time but if conditions aren't perfect the instructor needs to limit his students accordingly. There was something here a while back with a death at this lake because of a student getting separated from the instructor.
Remember as one dives more and more and trains more and more you do get better at it but remember when you first started
As for the platform no matter who put it there it is now public and if they didn't have the go a head to put it there it is illegal and if you all bitch enough somebody will pay the price and it will have to be removed.
Get on with it it is said and done don't dwell on it so much GO DIVING