American Sign Language

[QLittlestar]

Why haven't the world of diving embraced the idea of using American Sign Language as THE form of communication underwater? From my understanding ASL is the most developed form of communication for the deaf and hard of hearing in the world.

I started learning as a kid and now only remember some signs and fingerspelling which is EXTREMELY helpful underwater, not to mention as a language, it can be easily researched and your vocabulary expanded. It will certainly eliminate the need for that cumbersome pen and slate I see so many divers with.

 

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Firstly, its american so as a sign language irrelvent to most of the world.

Secondly, try it with 3 finger mitts.

Thirdly, why do you need an entire language for underwater when a few simple signals is all that's needed?

 

[Doc]

Firstly, its american so as a sign language irrelvent to most of the world.

I've seen a deaf Chinese Mom & Dad communicating brilliantly u/w with their daughter.

Secondly, try it with 3 finger mitts.

Thirdly, why do you need an entire language for underwater when a few simple signals is all that's needed?

In the warm water/pretty fish environment, no one that can find anything remarkable is wearing gloves of any kind.

In that tropical environment, quite often, there is a lot to communicate- even beyond, "what the hell is that?", which, in and of itself, is a fairly universal signal.

There was a fervent attempt out there a few years back (SeaSigns Scuba Dive Sign Language) hawking their version of Underwater Esperanto (Esperanto - Wikipedia), a series of signs and signals designed to be sold at retail at your LDS and then promptly lost in the bottom of the dive bag.

Many people buy those magnetic erasable dive slates, smarter ones shop at Salvation Army for the second hand toy versions.

This is an easy to make version of a pre-printed slate that you can make and laminate at Kinkos.

 

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The poster is on about a standardised langauge. Most of the world is not warm water, no glove environment.

If you want to communicate large amounts, use a slate or wet notes. I personally prefer people NOT to try to have in depth conversations with me when diving.

 

[Rileybri]

My wife is hearing impaired and we have both been taking ASL lessons so that we are not caught playing catch up when her hearing is completely gone. This began before I got my C card but I have found (even with gloves on) that teaching my regular dive buddy some basic signs has been very helpful in terms of incresing our ability to communicate UW.
Just a few points to make:
1) although ASL is English based many of the basic signs are the same where ever you hello is hello regardless of language or location.
2)Unless you are doing finger spelling (long and pretty useless UW) most of ASL is accessible and understandable UW with gloves on as it is gesture based.
3)ASL has= an increased ability to communicate, navigate, and insult my DB's nappy gear and poor form under water!
4) it has been very helpful in loud clouded environments where you would have to strain to hear each other or where we don't want another party with us to hear/understand what we are saying.

i give two thumbs up to ASL for diving!!

 

[jupitermermaid]

There is a PADI Sea Signs course that is based on ASL. It's a fun course, but covers pretty basic stuff. I agree, though, where one doesn't want to have extensive discussions under the water (isn't that what we're trying to get away from??), knowing some signs can be very helpful in emergencies or other situations when you want your buddy to know something right then and there. A tablet is the next best thing.

 

[El Orans]

Thirdly, why do you need an entire language for underwater when a few simple signals is all that's needed?

Hear, hear...

 

[OldNSalty]

A friend of mine enrolled his entire diving family in a 2 semester ASL course for the purpose of diving. What he said was that it appeared that there isn't a lot of deaf people diving because the language was lacking in diving specific signs. He also said that overall, most of what needed to be communicated underwater, his family had already created hand signals that they could use for that purposes.

I would think, and from what he said, that if something comes up that is so important that you need to have a long talk about it, you are probably in a situation where you should be heading for the surface anyway.

Diver 1-"Look-is that a great white or a tiger shark?"
Diver 2-"I don't know, but I think my SPG might be messed up, 45 minutes into the dive and it still says 3000 psi"
Diver 1-"man-he looks hungry. I picked a bad time to cut myself-Hey is he coming this way?"
Diver 2-"Serious man, should I have gone with an air-integrated instead of this thing? Is it just me or is it getting harder to breath?"

 

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Diver 1-"Look-is that a great white or a tiger shark?"

Triangle shape with hands and point.

Diver 2-"I don't know, but I think my SPG might be messed up, 45 minutes into the dive and it still says 3000 psi"

Signal "i have a problem" and point to or show SPG

Diver 1-"man-he looks hungry. I picked a bad time to cut myself-Hey is he coming this way?"

Stab buddy and swim away quickly

Diver 2-"Serious man, should I have gone with an air-integrated instead of this thing? Is it just me or is it getting harder to breath?"

Signal i have a problem and point to reg and/or SPG.

On a serious note ive not experienced anything on a dive that cant be solved with the few standard signals or very rarely a bit of improvisation. I carry a slate in case that fails but never needed it.
If you need a full blown conversation under water than use the right tools for the job. And that tool is a full face mask with proper UW comms setup. Far easier than learning an entirely new language which very few people speak which only works in one part of the world and doesnt work with mitts.

 

[scubajcf]

SeaSigns is based on American Sign Language (ASL). This was brought over from France in the late 1700's, thus ASL has a lot of European Roots and is very universal. An example, is lobster which is two claw hands. Obviously west coast lobsters don't have claws. British ASL is very similar, however it tends to be more two handed than ASL, which underwater, can be a disadvantage.

SeaSigns has a vocabulary of over 150 signs which gives you plenty of safety signing as well as fun signing. There is even a supplemental guide for gloved/mittened hands. A good SeaSigns instructor can walk you through all of that.

I actively teach the SeaSigns class. About 75 percent of the students that walk out of class and say it is the "most fun" course they have ever taken. I teach it during the "cold weather months" and offer it as a value added before trips. Because of all the safety signs, I mandate that all my dive staff use SeaSigns. Plus, you look darn tootin' professional to divers when your staff can communicate, actively, underwater.

If you are interested in learning more about SeaSigns head over to the Web site at SeaSigns (727) 518-7152 :: Underwater Communications, Scuba Dive Signs, Sign Language, Sea, Signs or feel free to PM me. As an Instructor Examiner, I work actively in teaching Instructor Trainers, Instructors and Students.


Best,
jcf



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