Pressure left hand signals

[Wheeler925]

Inspired by another thread. What hand signals do you use to indicate pressure left. I'll assume PSI for this, but feel free to comment otherwise.

 

[lairdb]

Whatever the guide requests, for guided — which IME varies wildly around the world and gets further confused in mixed psi/bar groups.

psi:
-thousands on the arm, hundreds out front (one, seven = 1700)
-hundreds on one hand (five five five two = 1700)
-digits on one hand cave/aviation ( one finger up palm out, two fingers sideways back out = 1700)
-digits on one hand ASL (hard to articulate, look it up)

Also, usually only use those below half a (rec) tank; OK above half, two-handed T at half.

With my regular buddy and no guide: hundreds on one hand, just ‘cause we’re used to it.

 

[TNEngineer]

Our favorite, which I don't see much out in the field, is a closed fist that "nods" once for every thousand, then fingers for hundreds. Requires only one (either) hand and no access to the other arm. Using fingers only for hundreds eliminates any chance of confusion with thousands. It's fast, easy, convenient, and resistant to misinterpretation.

 

[inquis]

Prefer normal #s (one hand) for the hundreds (2100 psi is two-one).

I'm only ever asked when on guided rec dives, though, so I try to respond as directed to avoid confusion.

 

[TX_Doc]

Our favorite, which I don't see much out in the field, is a closed fist that "nods" once for every thousand, then fingers for hundreds. Requires only one (either) hand and no access to the other arm. Using fingers only for hundreds eliminates any chance of confusion with thousands. It's fast, easy, convenient, and resistant to misinterpretation.

I like this. For numbers above 5 do you flash five and then add other? So for 1700 one fist nod, 5 fingers then 2 fingers?

 

[Badger7]

This is what we're used to in my neck of the woods:

1800 PSI

I usually put my left hand on my spg and give it a little shake first for clarity before sharing remaining gas numbers, and also make an exagerated turn of my whole arm and elbow to 90 degrees before extending fingers to represent 6-9. In murky waters or dark conditions, switching your light to your right hand and illuminating your spg you're wagging with your left hand, then switching the light back to your left hand and illuminating your right hand showing the first and second digit of your remaining pressure is about as clear as I could imagine.

 

[Badger7]

But as long as the people you are diving with understand that 90 degree fingers are +5, you can use a single hand for any multi-digit number sharing

Deco 18 minutes

 

[TNEngineer]

I like this. For numbers above 5 do you flash five and then add other? So for 1700 one fist nod, 5 fingers then 2 fingers?

Bingo! See, it's inherently understandable.

 

[Landau]

None of the above. Or at least never against the arm. In the cold, dark, murky waters here it is next to impossible to count the fingers on a black glove pressed against a black wet or dry suit.

I also don’t like just the OK signal. Is their pressure level OK or did they miss my signal and are OK in general but haven’t looked at their SPG since they descended?

But other than that, I can figure out almost any method a diver signals me.

 

[RIHappyDiver]

The folks I dive with still want to use fingers on arm for thousands, fingers on one hand for hundreds. A guide I had once wanted fingers on the arm, but use both hands if hundreds were over 5. That made me have to think too much, so I wasn’t a fan.
I like the turned hand for 6-9, but can’t seem to break the old habits.

Erik