Hand signals for tank pressure

[sasscuba]

A "thumbs up"? That has to be one of the worst methods I've heard yet. If someone gives me the thumbs up we are headed to the surface. Dive over. ESPECIALLY if I ask someone their remaining pressure, they look at their guage, and then give the thumb. My first thought would be that they are much lower on air than they thought and are aborting the dive. Talk about crossed signals. IMO the thumbs up has one meaning. Ascend. Not a question or a request but a statement. To start giving it other meanings takes that clarity away. If your air is, "OK", then give the "OK" signal.

Joe

I meant to type ok sign and not thumbs up, sorry.

 

[JRScuba]

In my SSI Open Water Diver Manual on page 100 Figure 3-17 shows the hand signals that they teach.

Rick's way is okay by me. Hand signals should be discussed with your buddy before you dive so both of you are on the same page. "Assuming" just does not cut it for me.

Diving with someone that does not have much experience ( Newbie ), I like to check their tank PSI to make sure he/she are not running out of gas. It keeps both of us out of trouble.

 

[limeyx]

Ah, but you are not waiting on them to reply as you would be answering their request to ascend. You ask for a pressure, they give the thumb, you reply with a thumb and begin the ascent. Of course there is the probability that they won't begin to ascend and will just look at you strange at which point you will stop and grab their guage. So again, if the intent is to signal, "I have over 1500psi and am OK", then why not use the signal thats only purpose is to indicate "OK"?
To me, giving the thumb to show you have enough air is the same as signaling Out Of Air while shaking your head "no" and intending to convey the message that you are not out of air.

Joe

I wasnt suggesting using the thumb for "how many PSI do you have" -- that's the last sign i'd use. I was simply responding to the comment that the thumb is not a Question -- but in a way it kind of is, as you cannot act on it unless the whole team responds with thumbs.

And yes, a thumb always ends the dive.

 

[Walter]

A thumb does not always end the dive. A thumbs up sign means ascend, it does not mean about the dive. Depending on how the sign is used, it could mean ascend to equalize my ears, it could mean ascend to get a bearing, then drop back and continue the dive, it could mean ascend to a shallower depth and continue the dive. It's merely one word - ascend.

 

[do it easy]

A thumb does not always end the dive. A thumbs up sign means ascend, it does not mean about the dive. Depending on how the sign is used, it could mean ascend to equalize my ears, it could mean ascend to get a bearing, then drop back and continue the dive, it could mean ascend to a shallower depth and continue the dive. It's merely one word - ascend.

for the non-abort ascend, I use the upwards palm with a lifting motion from the wrist.

 

[Rick Murchison]

for the non-abort ascend, I use the upwards palm with a lifting motion from the wrist.

Concur. A thumb thumbs the dive in our community. If given at the expected time in the dive it means "let's start our final ascent now;" if given earlier in the dive it means "this dive is over; ascend now (or proceed to the nearest exit and ascend)."
For Walter: If you don't use the thumb to signal "this dive is over, now" what do you use? You will grant, I hope, that there should be some clear, unique, mandatory "abort" signal... in my little circle that is the thumb, and it has no other meaning.
Rick

 

[xiSkiGuy]

A thumb does not always end the dive.

Maybe not for you. If I see a thumb, it means one thing: the dive is over. No questions asked.

 

[Walter]

Perhaps you should actually communicate instead of going off half cocked?

 

[Azotino]

Since my buddy and I are deaf, we used our sign language uw. Signaling our PSI, simply use our signs to express numbers. Numbers are one-hand method for us.

Looking at scuba signs, looks confusing due to the fact, when you are not standing the same as your buddy, it can be misunderstood. Just wanted to let you know my opinion. If it is not confusing method to some of you guys, then go ahead use it.

probably every one need to use this method....the best.

 

[xiSkiGuy]

Perhaps you should actually communicate instead of going off half cocked?

How did I know you were going to say something pithy like that?

FWIW, we have signs that mean those other things, as opposed to using one sign to mean many things. . .