Insane hand signals Thumbs Up = Bad

[PerroneFord]

First, thumbs up does not mean bad. It means ascend. It does not mean anything else in diving. It does not mean end the dive, it does not mean surface. It means ascend.

I'm sorry. This is not correct. There are contexts in diving where a thumb absolutely DOES mean end the dive and surface.

 

[ClayJar]

The four most important signals for a new diver:

• The OK of Happiness
• The Out of Air of Shame and Terror
• The Thumb of Termination
• The No, No, No, Scratch That of Miscommunication

Of these, the first is used extensively. The second should be known but never needed. The third ideally used once per dive. And the last? Well, with any luck, it's needed less as you get better with the others.

 

[Marek K]

I use the thumbs up daily in my work

Hmmm... my first thought had to do with "stand up/hook up," then serial slapping of your buddy on the butt... er, thigh.

But for 40 years??

 

[SteveAD]

As you dive more you'll start using the ok in daily life instead of the thumb.

 

[cmufieldhockey8]

The more you dive, the more you'll get used to the ok sign instead of thumbs up and pretty soon you'll be signing ok to people everywhere when you're not diving. Or am I the only one who does that?

I'm sorry. This is not correct. There are contexts in diving where a thumb absolutely DOES mean end the dive and surface.

I learned that thumbs up meant surface no questions asked, and the only acceptable response to a thumbs up is a thumbs up in return. To swim up is a palm up hand that you move up.

 

[riguerin]

Yeah it's a little confusing at first but thumbs up means "let's go up". What you probably want to convey is something like "cool".

No worries, dude ... here's what we do in So Cal. Start with your basic thumbs up sign, then extend your pinkie. Now you're sport'n a shaka sign.

The sign is of Hawaiian origin, but is quite commonly used today in action sport cultures. Among other things it's used to convey ideas like "alright" or "cool". You can tilt it, rock it, or pump it for emphasis.

Here's how it works:

scenario 1 - You're cruz'n along the reef and your buddy gets your attention and points out some cool hidden critter. After taking a look, you acknowledge by throwing him/her a shaka.

scenario 2 - You and your buddy are cruz'n along together again (cuz that's what good buddies do) and some big critter (like a sea lion or something) suddenly passes right in front of you. You point and turn to your buddy ...he/she is doing the same. You each rock a big shaka at the other.

scenario 3 - This is a slight variation of 2 above (little more advanced lesson). You and you buddy are doing your safety stop and big shark cruises by. At first you turn to each other with shakas flying. Then you notice that the shark looks pissed off and is making closer and bolder passes at you two. You quickly suck in those pinkies and revert back to the thumbs up ... "Let's get the heck out of here, daawg !"

One word of caution. While the shaka seems to have many attributes that make it a good UW communication tool that solves some of your current issues ... there is at least one potential problem with it. If you get the thumb and pinkie too close to your ear/mouth (respectively), it could possibly be misinterpreted as "I need to make phone call". This, in turn, could be promptly followed by a thumbs up question from your buddy. Now you're right back where you started. :shakehead

Good luck. Dive safe !

 

[Ian T]

El Orans, if you ever have the opputunity to dive with deaf ppl, you'll be in plenty of situations where you need sign language...especially below...

'What's the name of that fish?'

My wife is trying to teach me sign language (family members are deaf) and she can quite easily explain if there is a small problem that she is handling but I might need to be aware of....leg cramps whatever...or discuss a change in route while uw and why one is better than the other...

 

[Jetwrench]

I did the same thing when I started. Being in aviation, it's hard to break the habit of the thumbs up signal so often used. I've since made the adjustment. You will too. Just need more dives under your belt to imprint it in your brain. Til then, make sure you correct yourself so your buddy understands what you ment.

Jet

 

[DoItRite]

As an instructor, that is something I run into EVERY class. The thumb ISN'T bad. It means what it means... ascend. As for something to so "cool" the shaka is nice, but I mostly do the very emphatic OK, or if close enough the fist pound. I catch myself doing the OK way more than I should, to the point where people have thought that I was calling them "************." So, to be obnoxious, I do the "big OK" (hand on head, making an "o" with your arm.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

I like the "shaka," brah! That works!! I'll be incorporating that into my u/w repertoire of signs.