Hand signals?
- Thread starter sharky60
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Seriously though, my DM knows I am kinda fixed on getting the money shot of a jawfish with eggs. I was a little startled when she came over and started signaling by making a circle with her left forefinger and thumb, and shoved the index finger of her right hand into the circle, REPEATEDLY. Being a bit of a dunderhead, I was looking for two fish or some other couple in 'close proximity' so to speak. I thought I was going to witness some underwater blue movie or something. THEN it hit me she was signalling the jawfish.
I took about 4000 photos on CS and Paraíso and kept 4 that sucked the least and this was the best. No eggs of course. Ug:
I took about 4000 photos on CS and Paraíso and kept 4 that sucked the least and this was the best. No eggs of course. Ug:
cmulvaney
Contributor
This is always a good one.
ronski101
Contributor
I would love to see a comprehensive list of the signs that people use. Saw some new ones on this thread. We have always used 1 or 2 hands shaped in a claw for the lion fish sightings.
OP
sharky60
Contributor
ooh, that's much easier than the 2 handed "loose prayer" hand signal...I like! I like!
Think it was mentioned earlier but the book Scuba Signs by Dave Van Stijn is one I have used for years. Over 500 signs to include most of the critters you will see in Coz....like a college level Signs 101. You can order it on Amazon and I'm sure other book sites. My wife and I practice a bit before each trip and it really does help to eliminate confusion and minimize scratching things out on a slate.
Coz in 14 days!!
Just curious, what sort of things normally confuse you underwater? I don't dive with a slate unless it's a tech dive for my run times, yet I can't remember being confused underwater in quite a while whether diving alone or with my long-time buddy. I do appreciate that my DM carries a slate. I'd hate to have to learn signs for every possible critter he might spot.
On the other hand, signs for pelagics can be helpful. A point out into the blue followed by an easy to get sign for ray or shark seems to do the trick. However, when my DM spots something small or in a crevice, he usually writes it on his slate. If I see a group crowded around him and the slate says "lobster" I know I can safely ignore it. On the other hand, if it's something really cool, I can give the sign for whale shark, point off in the blue and send them all scattering so I can move in for a few pics.
Similar threads
