Do we need more hand signals?

[Sam Miller III]

I would suggest that all of you visit www.portagequarry.com legends of diving, Sea sabres signaling system---this is how it all began in 1950s even before USN had established a UW signaing system..

sdm

 

[gsk3]

I find that the best divers use less signals. They communicate by eye contact, they show each other their gauges at the proper time, they have already decided if there is going to be a leader, they assemble in a certain "formation" and they do not change relative position without making eye contact and ensuring that the buddy sees that change.

I personally do a lot of screaming.

I second the "less is more" when it comes to hand signals. I disagree about "cold" though. It's key information when the cold is a serious risk and when you're not able to go directly to the surface without causing serious trouble (as is the case with even recreational Jersey dives).

Shouting breaks down once you add much He.

 

[Doppler]

No need to reinvent the wheel. There are already a bunch of standard hand signals, you just need to learn them.

Book Review By Peter Buzzacott

Also, buy an underwater notebook and pencil.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Easy, grab your buddy's fin (or BC strap, or octo etc) and don't let go. That generally slows people ;-)

Ya i'll try that next time I can't keep up with you .

 

[diversteve]

If you're looking for something to do with your regular buddy: SeaSigns (408) 83-SCUBA :: Underwater Communications, Scuba Dive Signs, Sign Language, Sea Signs

I dove with an instructor once off Utila. We met up with a friend/colleague of his at a dive site u/w. They spent the next five minutes "talking" while the rest of us dove nearby. I think they both knew ASL.

 

[g1138]

Besides the usual up, down, problem, ok, look here signals I use a few others.

Safety Stop (1-3 fingers under a flat palm)
Swim in this direction (using just my wrist I karate chop in a direction; no need to point at you and I)
Cool/awesome (Shaka hand sign)
Numbers 0-9 (just one-handed: palm facing diver is 0-5, palm facing away and hand turned sideways is 6-9)
Get your sh*t together (kneading a ball of dough in my hands)
I'm peeing (mimic playing the piano; grinning optional)

I usually only go over the hand signals that are important for the dive or will be used the most. In which case the last two signals are usually reserved for classes briefings.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I second the "less is more" when it comes to hand signals. I disagree about "cold" though. It's key information when the cold is a serious risk and when you're not able to go directly to the surface without causing serious trouble (as is the case with even recreational Jersey dives).

Shouting breaks down once you add much He.

I was serious about the cold comment...So you are cold... What am I supposed to do?


I've done a lot of cold diving in wetsuits.

Are we going to discuss how cold you are underwater with hand sign?

When you get cold enough to be a problem, you can give me the cold sign and then a thumbs up... that's fine.

What am I supposed to do if you just show me the cold sign???? Give it back to let you know I feel the cold water and then feebly wiggle my pinky finger around near my weight belt buckle (the internationally recognized sign for shrinkage)????????????

 

[Rhone Man]

Lots of sensible advice above. First time I read a book on cave diving I realised there were dozens of standard hand signals that I didn't know.

Of course, hand signals only work if you both know them. I remember giving a (non-tec diver) buddy the signal "I have just gone into deco" (fist with smallest finger extended) and he just looked at me blankly. So I pulled out my slate and wrote it out laboriously by hand. By the end of that, he was in deco too.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Wet notes beat hand signals for complex communication.

 

[manni-yunk]

Wet notes beat hand signals for complex communication.

And a FFM with comms beats them all for complex and immediate communication!!!!