Proposing a New Hand Signal

[mccabejc]

Yeah, the "thumbs up with a level off " is cool, but I'm thinking of a signal that describes that your profile will be more of a ramp, rather than implying we'll just stop here and ascend to a shallower depth. And the thumbs up tends to imply a bit of urgency, which I want to avoid.

 

[Mothball]

I usually tell my buddy to make a nice easy ascent by holding my hand palm down and flat and move my hand at a 20-40 degree angle, forward and up in the direction we should go. Kind of like describing an airplane taking off with your hand. If we need to ascend without forward movement, I hold my hand out flat, palm down fingers spread wide, and rotate my wrist a little (kind of like describing an airplane that feels like it's flying on a ball-bearing or a skydiver flying like a potato chip) while moving it up slowly. They're both one handed, and the students I used it on picked up it's meaning immediately. I use these because, although I am not tech trained yet, I have read the books and noted that the "thumbs up" signal means "That's it, it's over, head up now" and demands the signal be returned and complied with immediately. Just my .02 worth. Semper Fi, Dave

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

I didn't realize it was the assimilated answer might have to start using something else for up-n-out than the pistol finger, although the meaning is the same "start heading that way" when its time to level out we use the traditional flat hand sweeping back and forth.

 

[grazie42]

I either use "palm down shopping upwards and forward" or "palm down, 45 dgr angle, and move it in the direction of travel"...both these seem to be intuitive because insta-buddies understand them without a prior briefing...

 

[Davetul]

What's wrong with pointing up and indicating a depth? I use that with my regular dive buddies, as well as instabuddies that I pick up on occasional boat dives and it seems to work well. Just as long as you remember which way is up it's all good...

 

[El Orans]

To add to the confusion...

I always use "drawing a C, startting at the bottom".

 

[shark.byte.usa]

Here's the assimilated answer;

A pointed finger in the way of the exit or up line and the thumb up. Kind of like when you make a pistol with your finger.

"Way to surface" at the bottom of the page.
http://www.dir-ger.de/faq/cavesigns/handzeichen1.htm

I did that once while pointing something out and my buddy's thought I was calling the dive; they just saw my thumb; Not a good rec diving sign IMO. For a caver it's cool you obviously don't mean let's go surface.

I like the level off followed by the # of feet; suppose I'd just point in the direction I wanted to go if it wasn't clear which way we were heading.

 

[onfloat]

I did that once while pointing something out and my buddy's thought I was calling the dive; they just saw my thumb; Not a good rec diving sign IMO. For a caver it's cool you obviously don't mean let's go surface.

That's why you always return the signal to your team and not the O.K. sign. Clear, Concise, Communication.

I like the level off followed by the # of feet; suppose I'd just point in the direction I wanted to go if it wasn't clear which way we were heading.

That works well for just changing the depth and continuing on.

As always, if you discuss hand signals before the dive your ahead of the game. If you didn't discuss the signal....Well, that's what wet notes are for.

 

[SpeedDemon]

Its a nice idea, but I think we have about 25 different hand signals already, and its important to keep it simple, I use a dive slate for any gestures my buddy doesnt understand. :14:

I use some different 'gestures' when im on my bike and 4x4 owners get in the way, but thats another story

 

[stevetim]

Well, does anyone remember those Yellow Pages commercials...let your fingers do the walking? If you want to infer a ramp with your hands to your dive buddy, how about you start with two fingers pointed down by your waist, let the fingers walk diagonally to chest level, and once you reach chest level you can have your hand 'walk' horizontally to show leveling off. One hand signals are more simple.