Favorite hand signals?

[6gunsal]

what are yours? They can't be anything taught or found in any manual. Either you or your buddy made them up, or you just did it on the fly.

Me and my buddy last year dove a few times together after getting certified. we had a signal for a big-mac-attack (in case we got hungry at depth). It was mostly a joke, cause I don't know what we would have done in such an event, but we always included our big-mac-attack signal in our pre-dive signal review.

 

[The Anchor]

I recently found one for signaling a safety stop. Beyond that we run thought the usual hand signals... Low on air, out of air, how are you going to pay (universal sign for cash rub thumb across index and middle finger), visa or american express (Vias is signaled with the victory/peace sign, American express is the same sign inverted).

 

[Blackwood]

I like the hand-gun-to-head signal meaning "I blew that."

 

[akscubainst]

Wheres' the ???/

I Left T I T Behind

DM

 

[The Anchor]

Wheres' the ???/

I Left T I T Behind

DM

This sign is rather gender specific I find. While it is instantly obvious when done by a women, it is much less clear when done by a man.

 

[Burnsie]

There is always the good old sign language for 'I gotta poop". That was used a lot in our group on the past live aboard trip. That early morning dive definitely coincided with my early morning bathroom visit.

 

[The_DivePirate]

Well, before we put P-valves in our drysuits, the signal for I gotta go was, two fingers down with a single finger from the other hand wiggling between the other two.
Seemed too work, but the P-valve is much more convienient than hustling to the surface, off with the gear and out of the suit, hopefully in time.

Joe

 

[TSandM]

Well, my favorite is not actually mine; it's the signal for "I'm using my air faster than you are, let's share for a while." It consists of a fist making a "knock-knock" motion, followed by a hand in the position it would be in while holding a cup. ("Can I borrow a cup of air?")

Fist to nose as a signal that you've found a clown nudibranch is a good one, too (also not mine).

 

[Garrobo]

Brings up the issue of American Sign Language. I think it should be taught in grade school to every student. I've heard that the American Indians used it to communicate between tribes. Why not between nations?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Whenever a piece of gear malfunctions ... get your buddy's attention, point to the piece of gear, and give the one-finger salute ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)