We need to use the standard when they are there and then get creative when the standard signs fall short. I specifically chose the hover signal because there is minimal confusion. Lets think it through, if you are telling your buddy "follow me to platform #1", are they really going to get confused with "I hover for 1 min"? They should not if you discussed this prior to your dive.You’re not being an ass- the point is there doesn’t seem to be a standard. “Hover” is as good as any.
Hand Signal Communication Training
- Thread starter bradStyle
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girlwithbigtanks
Contributor
Dive with someone enough
Meh
I don’t care
I can tell you are lost go that way
I’m bored
FFS
Help me with…
Meh
I don’t care
I can tell you are lost go that way
I’m bored
FFS
Help me with…
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LOL can confirm.
Honestly the vast majority of divers yap way too much with their hands about nothing of importance. Having 5,000 different hand signals for every species or rock or whatever is silly. For "platform" do you even need that word for instance? Why not "I'm leading that way" followed by "stop here" once you arrive. "I'm leading us at 60degrees magnetic 125ft to the platform at the 30ft depth to do drills for 15minutes" is just TMI.
Maybe the "yapping" is more of a dive guide thing than a real diver thing? Maybe they find the underwater banter increases their tips. If the OP wants to learn the "art" because he finds it fun or amusing or whatever, why not. It just seems that for most of us here it's not something we do or can advise on.
One of my dive buddies brought up the idea of using full face masks a few years ago. His idea was, it would be so much easier to communicate if we could just talk without a reg in the way. I thought about it a bit, and agreed that it would be easier to communicate, but disagreed that that would be a good thing. I'm not down there to chitchat man, part of the experience is to just shut up and chill for an hour. He was like, you're right, come to think of it, I don't want to talk to you the whole time either!
It's very important to have the safety signals down pat, and crystal clear. Share air, down, up, hold this depth, turn dive (normal), abort dive (emergency), stop, OK? OK, boat, truck, pressure gauge and numbers, which way?, this way, follow. These are all pretty standardized, but it's worthwhile to go over them before diving, especially if you're with an unfamiliar buddy, or any member of the buddy group is a little new, or a little rusty.
I do agree that the critical thing is to ensure that you have somebody's attention first, then signal very slowly. Like, really slowly. Also, if you are wearing black gloves over a black wetsuit, understand that it will be very hard to see your hands and fingers. Consider bright gloves or a bright wetsuit to prevent this problem.
Besides the safety stuff, my dive group likes to get creative with hand signals. It can be fun to just make something up and try to mime the idea to your buddy. A few of the things we've gotten comfortable with are:
- "I don't understand": exaggerated shrug
- "I think / I guess": pointer finger tapping at your temple, confused expression
- "I understand": pointer finger tapping at your temple, understanding expression
- "Nevermind": palm initially facing them, and rotating wrist to palm down. Like throwing something away
- "No": pointer finger up, moving or rotating side to side
- "Yes": fingers pinched to thumb, facing them, wrist bending up and down. Like a nodding head
Armed with these techniques, you can express a wide spectrum from confusion to certainty, and feel confident in your ability to tell somebody whether or not you understand their made up on the spot BS hand signals
It's very important to have the safety signals down pat, and crystal clear. Share air, down, up, hold this depth, turn dive (normal), abort dive (emergency), stop, OK? OK, boat, truck, pressure gauge and numbers, which way?, this way, follow. These are all pretty standardized, but it's worthwhile to go over them before diving, especially if you're with an unfamiliar buddy, or any member of the buddy group is a little new, or a little rusty.
I do agree that the critical thing is to ensure that you have somebody's attention first, then signal very slowly. Like, really slowly. Also, if you are wearing black gloves over a black wetsuit, understand that it will be very hard to see your hands and fingers. Consider bright gloves or a bright wetsuit to prevent this problem.
Besides the safety stuff, my dive group likes to get creative with hand signals. It can be fun to just make something up and try to mime the idea to your buddy. A few of the things we've gotten comfortable with are:
- "I don't understand": exaggerated shrug
- "I think / I guess": pointer finger tapping at your temple, confused expression
- "I understand": pointer finger tapping at your temple, understanding expression
- "Nevermind": palm initially facing them, and rotating wrist to palm down. Like throwing something away
- "No": pointer finger up, moving or rotating side to side
- "Yes": fingers pinched to thumb, facing them, wrist bending up and down. Like a nodding head
Armed with these techniques, you can express a wide spectrum from confusion to certainty, and feel confident in your ability to tell somebody whether or not you understand their made up on the spot BS hand signals
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