hand signals charts for multiple agencies

[zboss]

Hey folks,

I am a newly PADI certified diver and my sister is a YMCA diver. She is concerned about diving with me because she says we use different hand signals and have different training. I was wondering how much either of these is true.

In any case - does anyone have an on-line document with visual examples of the various hand signals each of the certifying agencies teach?

Thanks!

 

[Cave Diver]

I cant speak for all of the agencies, but the ones I trained with use the same basic signals. There may be some agency specific signals, but the common ones like out of air, low on air, end the dive, are you ok, etc. are pretty well standard.

It's a good idea to review some basic hand signals prior to your dive. If I am diving with a new person or have an specific objective during a dive, I will usually cover any signals I intend to use during a pre dive brief. Might also be handy if one or both of you dove with a slate or wet notes, just in case of any confusion...

 

[Spectre]

zboss once bubbled...
I am a newly PADI certified diver and my sister is a YMCA diver. She is concerned about diving with me because she says we use different hand signals and have different training

I don't know an online source of the hand signals. However it should be very easy to figure out. In any pre-dive brief you should go over hand signals. As you discuss the possibilities of diving together, you should go over all your hand signals, and for each one that is different, learn them both [preferred] or settle on one.

My buddies and I make up hand signals all the time. If we can't figure out what the signal is, we write it on a slate if it's important, or 'formalize' it during post-dive debrief.

 

[Dee]

Most hand signals are standard between all the different agencies. I agree with Spectre and Cave Diver...review your signals in your pre-dive check so everyone is on the same page.

Diverlink has several lists of u/w signals that you may find helpful.

Diverlink communication signals

 

[SDAnderson]

I've not found any substantial deviation in signals from one training agency to another, but a good source for standard signals is DAN. They sell a book, Scuba Divers Sign Language Manual, that has drawings of the most common signals.

This link will hopefully get you close - click the link, then browse products, then books, then select the title...D.A.N. Books

Then again, she might be looking for an issue to use to avoid diving with you - sometimes new divers are reluctant to dive with family or close friends. Give her some space to progress on her own and she may come around.

Steven

 

[Cave Diver]

Dee once bubbled...
Most hand signals are standard between all the different agencies. I agree with Spectre and Cave Diver...review your signals in your pre-dive check so everyone is on the same page.

Diverlink has several lists of u/w signals that you may find helpful.

Diverlink communication signals

Good link Dee.

I do disagree with one of the signals tho. In our diving a thumbs up means the dive is over. Period, no questions asked. We use usually use hand flat out, palm down and slowly raise it to indicate ascent.

In our diving, certain signals such as the thumbs up is a command signal, rather than just a query like "ok', and during our pre dive briefing the command signals are the ones we really stress.

 

[Dee]

Cave Diver once bubbled...
...In our diving, certain signals such as the thumbs up is a command signal, rather than just a query like "ok', and during our pre dive briefing the command signals are the ones we really stress.

I agree, we use the same signals. It's been awhile since I looked at that site and I didn't check it first. :mean:

 

[Genesis]

there are two command signals that are non-negotiable.

HOLD (clenched fist) requires a response of HOLD in reply (not "OK"). After you stop you can then figure out why someone gave it (it usually means you're fixing to do something that your buddy doesn't like or isn't comfortable with, or that there is danger that one person saw and the other did not!)

UP is a call of the dive. It is acknowledged with an "UP" in reply, not "OK". Either member of the buddy pair can use it at any time for any reason; its another one of those "discuss it later" deals. The person who initiates it has the lead back to either the surface or ascent line (anchor line, etc) from that point. If the person who issued it wants to stop and discuss, it is at their sole discretion (ultimately you may end up talking about it at the surface.)

I don't get so complicated about the marine life stuff as some do though....

I also use a triangle (both hands) for "boat" or "anchor" (if anchored); I've seen some use a "J-shaped" index finger for "anchor."

 

[kystork]

That was an excellent link Dee. Some of those hand signals I have never seen.....marine fish signals...that is way too coolgle:

 

[Rick Murchison]

So long as you and your buddy are communicating clearly with your hand signals, you're doing it right. It doesn't matter whether you use ASL, PADI, NSS-CDS or "Dick & Jane" - if the messages are clear, it's the right thing to do. The site Dee cites is an excellent one, and provides a good framework for you and your buddy to build around. There are others... my regular diving buddies and I, for example, have chosen to standardize on the signals in Prosser & Grey's "Cave Diving Communications" (available from NSS-CDS http://www.cavediver.org/ ) with a few small modifications and quite a few additions, especially in the "marine life" area. For a complete underwater language, you can't beat ASL if you have the time to learn it.
Bottom line, the important agreement on hand signals is between you and your buddy - not with any particular agency.
Rick