Do we need more hand signals?

[Thalassamania]

Totally grinding my gears, here. Best I can deduce is, quoting you,: If we don't, don't worry about it. It's a hand signal you'll never need. -your move.

Sorry if I was not clear. There are any number of examples of miscommunication as a result of the misunderstanding of hand signals. The last sentence that you quoted was irony.

 

[Splitlip]

I want to dive with you...

My sisters and I have it pretty worked out after a week diving in Bonaire - because we're all under 30 and insinctively use thumbs up for "awesome" we pretty much point in the directing we want to do (including up) with an index finger.

Next trip with them I'm banning the use of tank bangers unless we're currently under attack by space aliens or something. Not good when you've learned to tune out the tank banger because it has come to mean "I just found the 10-millionth baby moray eel"....

I believe the most universally used and recognized signals are thumbs up for surface/end dive, thumb down for descend, index finger and thumb in a circle for ok, good. You should consider getting in the habit of using them IMO. Usually an index finger pointing up is the digit 1. Index finger down is the digit 6.

 

[txaggie08]

I have a surface signal I gave my LT. the other day for making me get in 50* water for a training exercise ......very universal to

 

[RJP]

Tired: Palms together to form a pillow against a cheek and tip head like on a pillow.

Funny, my buddy and I use that one to signal "boring dive"

 

[Doppler]

I want to dive with you...

My sisters and I have it pretty worked out after a week diving in Bonaire - because we're all under 30 and insinctively use thumbs up for "awesome" we pretty much point in the directing we want to do (including up) with an index finger.

Next trip with them I'm banning the use of tank bangers unless we're currently under attack by space aliens or something. Not good when you've learned to tune out the tank banger because it has come to mean "I just found the 10-millionth baby moray eel"....

What does your age have to do with anything?

I'm over 30 and grew up in the East-end of London, and instinctively use thumbs-up to indicate things are OK, great, right-on, I'm with you, I agree, that's funny... but in the water, that signal means "SURFACE NOW!"

And you may find people will be reluctant to dive with you if this is not clear.

 

[Randy g]

NACD book ordered!

Thanks for the post!

 

[lv2dive]

What does your age have to do with anything?

I'm over 30 and grew up in the East-end of London, and instinctively use thumbs-up to indicate things are OK, great, right-on, I'm with you, I agree, that's funny... but in the water, that signal means "SURFACE NOW!"

And you may find people will be reluctant to dive with you if this is not clear.

I sincerely appreciated someone pointing this out to me after a dive a few years ago.... that they were really confused when I kept giving them the "dive's over" sign (until it became clear that wasn't what I meant). My original training in 2000 was a very quick class taken while on vacation and if the importance of the "thumb" was taught, it wasn't emphasized. As soon as it was brought to my attention, it became very easy to substitute different signs to convey the same message.

If I'm diving with true instabuddies, which is rare, the hand symbols I would review are the three command symbols and then how to show numbers. I bring this up, bc even these simple signals can cause confusion - I also wasn't taught the closed hand "hold" (was taught open hand "stop") originally and the first time someone gave me that signal I had no idea what they wanted. For numbers, I prefer the one-handed method (palm out, fingers up for 1-5, palm in, fingers to the side for 6-9) but if buddy isn't familiar with that, I go with whatever they are familiar.

 

[rmh84]

What does your age have to do with anything?

I'm over 30 and grew up in the East-end of London, and instinctively use thumbs-up to indicate things are OK, great, right-on, I'm with you, I agree, that's funny... but in the water, that signal means "SURFACE NOW!"

And you may find people will be reluctant to dive with you if this is not clear.

I realize this, and am 99% "cured" of using this underwater now - the sister that was only just certified last month, not so much though. Can't say i've ever had a communication issue with a divemaster or buddy (I use normal signals with everyone else!).

 

[soltari675]

A friend of mine was complaining once he didn't have his camera ready for video. He was diving with his wife and at the same time two instructors from our local LDS. He found the two instructors and they were on the bottom having a whole conversation with hand signals. Looked like a big argument When they surfaced he asked them about it and they said "we were just talking." Was amusing.

I am hesitant about showing anyone my air who I don't know. I dive with an air integrated computer, the Galileo Luna. They always think the no stop timer on it is my air supply and freak out trying to get me to surface.

I find if you dive with people long enough, communication becomes second nature. Can be frustration with new dive buddies. But regular buddies are no problem.