American Sign Language

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Not all "emergencies" need to end a dive. I jumped in one time had forgotten to buckle my BC to the tank :doh2:. Once we hit bottom I was able to sign "tank strap loose" and my buddy buckled me up and we were on our way. I would have hated to have had to remove all my gear underwater to do it on my own if I had to.

So signal "problem" and motion to tank strap. Any buddy with an IQ above room temperature should be able to look behind and see and fix the problem. Or just dekit and do it. Its not difficult and again doesn't require learning an entirely new language which well maybe completely useless in the real world, especially outside the usa.

Im still struggling to see the NEED for a comprehensive sign language in diving when you can do 99% of diving with standard signals and the other 1% with proper UW comms.

 

[MartianBeerPig]

There is no real need for a comprehensive sign language. A nice to have rather than a must have. I imagine anyone engaging in more task oriented rather lookaround dives would find it more useful.

 

[jupitermermaid]

Im still struggling to see the NEED for a comprehensive sign language in diving when you can do 99% of diving with standard signals and the other 1% with proper UW comms.

Don't struggle so hard. Anyone with an IQ above room temperature probably only uses several signs when talking to someone with an attitude like yours underwater anyway...

It's just a fun little course for people who WANT to take it for fun. Obviously not for you. Lighten up.

 

[NudeDiver]

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?

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner.

But you left out, "using an entirely language when only a few simple hand signals are needed introduces unnecessary complexity, esp. in an emergency/panic situation."

 

[NudeDiver]

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?"

Ah man, thanks for the good, hearty laugh. I can just imagine this conversation if McCain and Palin went diving together.

McCain: "Look-is that a great white or a tiger shark?"

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

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

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

McCain: "####, he IS coming this way. Sarah, I'm going to the surface! You can do what you want."

Palin: "Ah man, my hair is getting wet!"

 

[El Orans]

Not all "emergencies" need to end a dive. I jumped in one time had forgotten to buckle my BC to the tank :doh2:. Once we hit bottom I was able to sign "tank strap loose" and my buddy buckled me up and we were on our way. I would have hated to have had to remove all my gear underwater to do it on my own if I had to.

So signal "problem" and motion to tank strap. Any buddy with an IQ above room temperature should be able to look behind and see and fix the problem. Or just dekit and do it. Its not difficult and again doesn't require learning an entirely new language which well maybe completely useless in the real world, especially outside the usa.

If you don't need it, don't [-]bring[/-] learn it... I know I won't.

Im still struggling to see the NEED for a comprehensive sign language in diving when you can do 99% of diving with standard signals and the other 1% with proper UW comms.

I agree.

It's not for everybody. It's more of a fun class if you do it with friends.

Like the Boat Diving specialty?

SeaSigns, sorry for the misinformation. I don't know why I thought it was a PADI thing.

Here's the dedicated SeaSigns forum for more in-depth discussions: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/seasigns/

 

[Thadmn]

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

Not true! My HOH girlfriend found it was very easy to communicate with deaf people throughout Europe despite some differences in certain signs. Most signs make a lot of sense once you see them.

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

I can think of many instances when being able to communicate in detail with my buddy (when I have one), would have been beneficial. I have often thought how handy ALS would be, and how perfectly suited it is for this application. Instead, most people make up arbitrary signs trying to get their point across which are usually not understood.

 

[Thadmn]

So signal "problem" and motion to tank strap. Any buddy with an IQ above room temperature should be able to look behind and see and fix the problem. Or just dekit and do it. Its not difficult and again doesn't require learning an entirely new language which well maybe completely useless in the real world, especially outside the usa.

Im still struggling to see the NEED for a comprehensive sign language in diving when you can do 99% of diving with standard signals and the other 1% with proper UW comms.

I don't NEED a car, nice to have one though.

 

[El Orans]

I don't NEED a car, nice to have one though.

If you're willing to pay for it...

 

[Pearldiver07]

I put up a comment on this in the instructor forum a little bit ago. Although my wife and I know enough to cover basic communications, it comes in VERY handy when I am working with assistants while teaching. Several of us in the shop got the idea when we couldn't get to ASL-capable students to "shut up" and pay attention during their OW class. But they seemed to get a lot more out of the dives than most since they could discuss what was going on during the dive.

When I send an assistant off with a pair of students it is far quicker and clearer to give them instructions via ASL than on a slate. We found that even in a teaching context only about 30 or so signs were really needed. Granted - a different environment than recreational diving though.

And I can tell you that the sign language that I used while stationed in Korea was VERY similar to that used here in the U.S. I'd call it dialectual differences, not a separate language.

Let's not completely dismiss a tool or skill simply because you don't see any advantage to it. Signing has a very legitimate place in diving. I see those using waterproof housings to listen to music u/w. I'd NEVER do it - I prefer my quiet. But that's their choice. The ability to communicate underwater can be very valuable, particularly when someone is learning or in a stressful situation.

Not to hijack the thread - but for the above comment about boat diving specialty: if someone teaches a student how to fall off of a resort boat, etc., I agree. But when I was new my instructor taught it for divers with their own boats. A lot of relevant and useful information in that format. Remember, anything is only as relevant and helpful as the instructor and student perceive it to be.