Diving Communications

[Rich Keller]

When diving surface supplied your hard wire communications are with the surface only not the other divers. The only exception to that I have ever used was when diving Mark V type helmets, if you placed your helmet against the other divers helmet you could talk to each other. Another way to communicate with the surface without comms would be through line pull signals. Like basic hand signals they are simple and to the point. One pull: Are you OK, two pulls: Give me slack, three pulls: Take up the slack, four pulls: Pull me up.

 

[PfcAJ]

What is your primary communication method whilst diving?
Light signals

What are you mostly communicating about underwater?

Most light communication is passive; just to let your buddy know that you're there and everything is ok.

Does it involve long streams of communication (such as speech) or short set communications (such as hand gestures)?

Light signals are always simple, hand gestures can be a little more complex but still simple questions, commands, or answers.

Do you use any additional equipment to aid communication?

Wetnotes for more complex things. Usually for decision that needs adiscussion or a change in dive plan. We do this somewhat regularly.

Does this equipment integrate well with the primary diving equipment?

The light works wonderfully, but wet notes take some time to get out, write, show, and put away. Not a big deal though.

What advantages and disadvantages do you find with your primary forms of communications?

light signals are convenient, but limited, as are hand gestures. Wet notes reduce any ambiguity at the expense of quickness and convenience. All are low tech, reliable, and easily understood.

Are you communicating with other divers or people on the surface?

Other divers 99% of the time. Occasionally a note gets sent to the surface via a support diver, but that's a rarity.

How much training did the primary form of communication take for you to become proficient in it?

Not a lot, I find all 3 to be pretty straight forward.

 

[soltari675]

What is your primary communication method whilst diving?
Hand gestures and signals.

What are you mostly communicating about underwater?
Ok, turn around, level off here, cold, air pressure, I'm hungry (yes I get hungry if we spend over an hour underwater ), look!, Did you see that?, boat, be careful, let's ascend. Those the the most common ones.

Does it involve long streams of communication (such as speech) or short set communications (such as hand gestures)?
Usually small bits of information, easy hand gestures. But we've had lengthy conversations with hand signals before. With my primary dive buddy anyway.

Do you use any additional equipment to aid communication?
If I am with someone new in a new location, I will take a slate. Just in case.

Does this equipment integrate well with the primary diving equipment?
It's a wrist slate, so yes. It adds on easy. No changes.

What advantages and disadvantages do you find with your primary forms of communications?
It's familiar, so it's very easy to get the point across quickly. It's sometimes a challenge if there is something new I want to say that we've not established signals for. Sometimes I get get my buddy to understand, sometimes not.

Are you communicating with other divers or people on the surface?
The only time I communicate with people on the surface is during an ice dive. Otherwise, just with other divers.

How much training did the primary form of communication take for you to become proficient in it?
Depends. With my main few dive buddies, not too long. We practice it every week on every dive. With new dive buddies, especially those I may not mesh well with, longer.

 

[Mustard Dave]

What is your primary communication method whilst diving?

Hand signals.

What are you mostly communicating about underwater?

Directions, cylinder contents, deco times, pointing out things of interest

Does it involve long streams of communication (such as speech) or short set communications (such as hand gestures)?

Generally short.

Do you use any additional equipment to aid communication?

Wetnotes and torch.

Does this equipment integrate well with the primary diving equipment?

Yes.

What advantages and disadvantages do you find with your primary forms of communications?

Hand gestures are limited and sometimes not everybody understands you, however, the critical stuff (I'm OOG, ascend, cylinder contents) are well understood. I do have a concern torch signals are not understood well enough. They do not feature at all in several courses.

Are you communicating with other divers or people on the surface?

Mostly other divers. I will launch a DSMB to tell the boat I am about to ascend. I will also use a DSMB to warn watercraft I am below if conditions dictate. I have a yellow DSMB to indicate a problem. Too many people do not understand the purpose of the yellow buoy though, and either use it as a general purpose signalling device or do not recognise it as a distress signal.

How much training did the primary form of communication take for you to become proficient in it?

Hand signals were instant, so were wet notes. Torch signals aren't tricky either. DSMB deployment takes practice.

 

[BabyDuck]

what ts&m said.

 

[HowardE]

HowardE, what are you doing when you are using a full face mask (what work are you doing?)? How do you find using one? What are the issues with it? Can you only communicate to other people who are wearing one?

what work are you doing?
Full Face Mask, I am usually looking for the wreck site.

How do you find using one?
I find FFM's less enjoyable than open circuit scuba, but necessary for swimming around and talking. Hard Hat is much better.

What are the issues with it?
There is increased pCO2 with a FFM, it's less comfortable than OC Scuba or a hard hat as far as long duration dives go, but your face is dry, and you can talk. It's a tool.

Can you only communicate to other people who are wearing one?
For the most part yes. However, if someone is close by, you can talk if you touch their head with your facemask, and they can often hear you just fine.

 

[HenrikBP]

Yep, what TS&M said.

 

[readlaura]

So obviously people mostly use the standard hand signals as everyday communications. I'm quite interested in the idea of using light to enhance this, probably with something that you don't have to hold onto. Is this something you think would be effective?

What do you people think about portraying emotions or general feeling so that people can always know around you?

 

[Bratface]

What is your primary communication method whilst diving?
​

Hand Signals

What are you mostly communicating about underwater?
​

Fish and critters I want to point out or asking about air, is diver ok, etc.

Does it involve long streams of communication (such as speech) or short set communications (such as hand gestures)?
​

Hand gestures

Do you use any additional equipment to aid communication?
​

Dive slate

Does this equipment integrate well with the primary diving equipment?
​

Yes, It fits behind my weight pocket on my BC. Once I start writing on it, I tuck it into the cummerbund

What advantages and disadvantages do you find with your primary forms of communications?
​

It's quick and easy and usually understood. On the other hand, sometimes hard to get buddy's attention

Are you communicating with other divers or people on the surface?
​

Occasionally on the surface waiting for all divers to get off the boat. I can talk at that time for the most part.

How much training did the primary form of communication take for you to become proficient in it?
Not much at all. Some were made up with buddies as we needed to.​

 

[GrimSleeper]

So obviously people mostly use the standard hand signals as everyday communications. I'm quite interested in the idea of using light to enhance this, probably with something that you don't have to hold onto. Is this something you think would be effective?

What do you people think about portraying emotions or general feeling so that people can always know around you?

Trust me... It's rarely hard to work out emotion or general feeling from how someone uses standard light or hand signals...