How do you signal air remaining?

[D_B]

How do you signal your air pressure remaining to your dive buddy?
When I did my intro. dive in Roatan, the instructor did it in a way I have not seen since. She indicated thousands by splaying right hand fingers across her left arm, above the wrist , and then hundreds by holding up the corresponding number of fingers , again using her right hand.
I think it was/is easier to understand than the standard 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 3 = 2000 + 300
It looked simple, quick and was very easy to see how much air someone had left , with the 2 on arm + 3 fingers , to indicate 2300

DB

 

[jakubson]

How do you signal your air pressure remaining to your dive buddy?
When I did my intro. dive in Roatan, the instructor did it in a way I have not seen since. She indicated thousands by splaying right hand fingers across her left arm, above the wrist , and then hundreds by holding up the corresponding number of fingers on her right hand.
I think it was/is easier to understand than the standard 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 3 = 2000 + 300
It looked simple, quick and was very easy to see how much air someone had left , with the 2 arm + 3 fingers , to indicate 2300

DB

Using 2 hands gets to be a pain when holding lights, cameras, ... I still use what i was taught - one hand flashing 5+5+3. This also works (with a little less accuracy ) when using 3 fingered cold water mitts.

 

[StSomewhere]

Seriously? I show them my SPG. The correct response is for them to show their SPG.

 

[D_B]

StSomewhere ... Very simple idea , and I have done that as well , looked at others SPG , and shown my SPG
It sounds like a good idea to check to see if your buddy is correct on his air remaining ... you , or he, could have misscounted

DB

 

[Rovendiver]

I like the showing of the pressure guage, no misunderstandings there.

 

[Hydrophobic]

I was taught to use one hand. Hold hand up for numbers one through five and show fingers to the side for six through ten. Zero is made by showing a "O" with the hand.

To indicate 1270, I would show one finger up for "1" then two fingers up for "2" followed by two fingers held sideways to indicate "7" and then a "O" with my hand to indicate Zero.

All the divers I buddy with use this quite well. Shows great with blue dry gloves, I have to be careful with my black neoprene to make sure my hand is clear of my black drysuit.

 

[ShakaZulu]

I was taught to use one hand. Hold hand up for numbers one through five and show fingers to the side for six through ten. Zero is made by showing a "O" with the hand.

To indicate 1270, I would show one finger up for "1" then two fingers up for "2" followed by two fingers held sideways to indicate "7" and then a "O" with my hand to indicate Zero.

All the divers I buddy with use this quite well. Shows great with blue dry gloves, I have to be careful with my black neoprene to make sure my hand is clear of my black drysuit.

Same way I do it, works well..........

 

[ch0ppersrule]

same as hydro -- 1-5 put fingers straight up and 6-9 turn fingers to the side. 0 is a closed fist or make and "o" with hand.

 

[Kriterian]

I was taught to point at the air gauge to show you want to announce pressures, and then just spell out each number so 2500 would be: 2 fingers, 5 fingers, 1 "O" shape, 1 "O" shape. Although that requires two hands, so showing each other the gauge works alot easier.

 

[pasley]

All a good example of why reviewing common, basic hand signals before the dive is so important. We have seen here that even the simple signal for how much air I have is done/taught differently in various places around the globe.