Insane hand signals Thumbs Up = Bad

[lamont]

Everytime I see a shaka, I think it's a combination of "problem" and the thumb. No worries- I know what what it means, I just don't use it myself.

My dive buddies are starting to think that means gas switch...

 

[Thalassamania]

Read these posts with interest...All are good and some what logical but miss the mark.

The very first verified Underwater Signaling system was developed by SCUBA club called the Sea Sabres (SS) in a pool in North Long Beach California in the very early 1950s. ...

SDM

I seem to remeber a hand signal sheet with many of our current signals (including the thumbs up for ascend) on a sheet that came from a dive course run at Scripps in 1953.

 

[do it easy]

My dive buddies are starting to think that means gas switch...

Do you have a signal for gas switch? I don't- I just OK the guy that's showing me his MOD marking.

I've seen some people show a pinky to indicate deco time, but not a actual signal for gas switch.

 

[riguerin]

My dive buddies are starting to think that means gas switch...

Are you using the rotating fist with index finger and pinkie extended toward team mate (pinkie and index finger alternately swapping positions)?

 

[do it easy]

Are you using the rotating fist with index finger and pinkie extended toward team mate ?

Isn't that the signal for voodoo curse?

 

[ianr33]

For myself and my buddies a thumb means the dive is over NOW,head back to the surface (which may be a horizontal,or even downward swim).No sightseeing on the way.

Signal for decrease your depth is palm up,hand being raised.

Oh,I use the shaka sign for gas switch.

Probably a good idea to go over signs with a new buddy before getting in the water

 

[do it easy]

I'm confused- in what context do you use the gas switch signal? The only reason I could think of is for underwater dive planning- if you change the gas plan and have to indicate a deeper or shallower gas switch. Maybe a stage to backgas switch?

 

[Sam Miller III]

I seem to remeber a hand signal sheet with many of our current signals (including the thumbs up for ascend) on a sheet that came from a dive course run at Scripps in 1953.

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Nope!

If Scripps had a signaling system Connie Limbaugh would have not lost his life in that French cave in March 1958-9(?)

They adapted the USN? SS system after Jimmie Stewart took over as CDO. Don't you recall alll the flap about Connie and no effective commincations? That was the big buzz at SIO and the California diving world for some time.

SDM

 

[Thalassamania]

**********************************************
Nope!

If Scripps had a signaling system Connie Limbaugh would have not lost his life in that French cave in March 1958-9(?)

They adapted the USN? SS system after Jimmie Stewart took over as CDO. Don't you recall alll the flap about Connie and no effective commincations? That was the big buzz at SIO and the California diving world for some time.

SDM

Actually I do (you, me and Jim are probably the only ones who remember) that was why that sheet stuck in my mind. Could one of the SS folks have been involved in one of the early Scripps courses?

BTW: I think Connie died in 1960. "CDO" is another term I haven't heard for many decades, its "DSO" now.

 

[theskull]

I'm confused- in what context do you use the gas switch signal? The only reason I could think of is for underwater dive planning- if you change the gas plan and have to indicate a deeper or shallower gas switch. Maybe a stage to backgas switch?

I give my buddy the gas switch signal when I see that he has failed to make the planned switch at the agreed-upon depth/place, as a reminder. It has happened with more than one buddy.

We use the first 2 fingers extended, flipped back and forth over each other.

For some buddy teams who are very team oriented, it could also be used to say, "I'm about to make my gas switch, watch me to make sure I don't screw it up".

theskull