Hand signal to end/terminate dive?

[EFX]

The hand signals have to be understood in the proper context. If I were given a flat palm up moving up without another signal I would interpret that to mean come off the bottom. In open water what is your signal to skip the safety stop and go directly to the surface?

 

[Lorenzoid]

In open water what is your signal to skip the safety stop and go directly to the surface?

Good question. My buddy and I don't explicitly define such a signal, but when our (last) stop is complete, we usually signal with both thumbs, meaning "let's surface." On a dive in which the only planned stop is a traditional safety stop, if my buddy were to give me that double-thumb sign, I would interpret that as "ascend now and skip the safety stop."

 

[Belzelbub]

The hand signals have to be understood in the proper context. If I were given a flat palm up moving up without another signal I would interpret that to mean come off the bottom. In open water what is your signal to skip the safety stop and go directly to the surface?

Last week, I was on a dive with a buddy of mine. Nothing too demanding. Depth was around 55'. At the surface, we agreed to descend along the anchor line, where I would make sure it was secure, but not going to be a problem to retrieve. I would adjust as necessary, then we would dive. This is fairly standard when I dive off my anchored boat, so nothing unusual.

Anyway, when we got down, my buddy gave the thumbs up signal. I don't know why, but I had a feeling it wasn't equipment, but more anxiety. Maybe the look in his eyes clued me in. Since we were close, I pointed toward the anchor line so he could ascend with his hand on the line as needed. When we got to Safety Stop depth, I signaled to level off, and asked if he was OK. He shook that off, and gave the thumbs up. That was clear enough that we should proceed directly up.

 

[mcohen1021]

 

[tbone1004]

The hand signals have to be understood in the proper context. If I were given a flat palm up moving up without another signal I would interpret that to mean come off the bottom. In open water what is your signal to skip the safety stop and go directly to the surface?

I don't believe you should have that as a provision for your dive. In a medical emergency everything goes out the window, but barring a medical emergency there is no reason you should ever skip a stop. As such, I do not have a signal for skipping one.

 

[Jimchris]

Thumb up is (or should be) a command that the dive is over, and should not be questioned by accompanying divers/team members. Make your way towards first stop, towards the exit, etc.

 

[EFX]

I don't believe you should have that as a provision for your dive. In a medical emergency everything goes out the window, but barring a medical emergency there is no reason you should ever skip a stop. As such, I do not have a signal for skipping one.

Yes. You shouldn't skip a deco stop, that is why I asked what the signal is for skipping a safety stop, which is not mandatory, and going directly to the surface.

 

[EFX]

Last week, I was on a dive with a buddy of mine. Nothing too demanding. Depth was around 55'. At the surface, we agreed to descend along the anchor line, where I would make sure it was secure, but not going to be a problem to retrieve. I would adjust as necessary, then we would dive. This is fairly standard when I dive off my anchored boat, so nothing unusual.

Anyway, when we got down, my buddy gave the thumbs up signal. I don't know why, but I had a feeling it wasn't equipment, but more anxiety. Maybe the look in his eyes clued me in. Since we were close, I pointed toward the anchor line so he could ascend with his hand on the line as needed. When we got to Safety Stop depth, I signaled to level off, and asked if he was OK. He shook that off, and gave the thumbs up. That was clear enough that we should proceed directly up.

In the US most, if not all the buddies I've dove with, use 2 handed signals. The standard signal for the safety stop is the flat palm down on top of the outstretched fingers of the opposite hand. The standard meaning for thumbs up among these divers is to ascend to a shallower depth. Since I use the palm up being raised followed by the actual depth for ascending to a shallower depth, I've reinterpreted the thumbs up as meaning to go directly to the surface just as your buddy did. These same divers will use the thumb up after the safety stop to indicate going to the surface. I just extend that same meaning when given below safety stop depths.

 

[Raphus]

If i just want to ascent to a shallower depth, i give the thumbs up and then the new depth as a number. I usually brief this before, but i gave it a few time without briefing it and it was always understood.

Skipping a safetystop would just be thumbs up.

 

[tbone1004]

Yes. You shouldn't skip a deco stop, that is why I asked what the signal is for skipping a safety stop, which is not mandatory, and going directly to the surface.

If you have decided to do a safety stop then IMO it is treated no differently than a deco stop and is not to be skipped barring some sort of medical emergency.