Standardization of Hand Signals

[Zach The Diver]

A thought I had a while ago…

There’s a huge disparity in many dive signals and how they’re taught. This is most prominent in how “gas remaining” is communicated and seems to vary based on geography, agency, and sometimes even instructor. This has lead to plenty of confusion- for instance the “count by fives” method of communicating remaining gas is easy to misconstrue (you may miss one signal or count an extra one and have an incorrect idea of your partner’s remaining gas).

Some dive situations (minimal visibility or ambient light, for instance) may render certain methods of communication inconvenient or inappropriate to use.

I know that this is what a predive briefing is for. Nevertheless, I think that there should be an industry-wide, standardized approach to this for a multitude of reasons. One is what I had already stated above, but another aspect to consider is the need to communicate aptly and appropriately during an emergency. It’s easy to forget “what was briefed” and revert to old habits when you are task-loaded or stressed, and such mishaps are not what you want during a potential life-or-death situation.

I recognize that some variation may be appropriate- such as signaling “Okay!” with a controlled spin of a light instead of a hand signal on a night dive, but these types of variations are usually maintained as alternate methods of communicating an idea and not a “replacement”. If anyone sees in any dive situation there is no chance of misunderstanding its meaning.

 

[lermontov]

I think youll find that over time the gas remaining signal will be replaced by the turn around signal or the end dive signal. As you get more experience youll find that you and your dive buddies will mysteriously start thinking the same way - The only time I ask my buddy how much gas they've got is if they are relative newbie and I want to monitor their sac rate, that way I can compensate and make an earlier turn pressure - with more experienced divers i have confidence they are monitoring their own consumption and will tell me when its time to turn around and vice versa

A long as you are confidant/know what your own turn pressure is then you can expect your buddy to be checking theirs. If they aren't or seem to be oblivious, swim over and look at their spg

 

[Zach The Diver]

I think youll find that over time the gas remaining signal will be replaced by the turn around signal or the end dive signal. As you get more experience youll find that you and your dive buddies will mysteriously start thinking the same way - The only time I ask my buddy how much gas they've got is if they are relative newbie and I want to monitor their sac rate, that way I can compensate and make an earlier turn pressure - with more experienced divers i have confidence they are monitoring their own consumption and will tell me when its time to turn around and vice versa

A long as you are confidant/know what your own turn pressure is then you can expect your buddy to be checking theirs. If they aren't or seem to be oblivious, swim over and look at their spg

I definitely get what you’re saying and yes, with experience the constant loop of checking gas seems to diminish a bit assuming everyone is at the same level with their diving.

I’m not exactly brand new, but I still like to check gas with my buddies and teammates (on an average dive this typically happens once or twice) just to verify what we had anticipated in our dive planning and make a determination if we need to adjust a little. I do this with folks I’ve never dove with before as well as the people in my circle who I have had plenty of dives with.

 

[NothingClever]

Nevertheless, I think that there should be an industry-wide, standardized approach to this for a multitude of reasons.

I think the closest there is to an industry standard is from the WRSTC but seasoned divers may not feel very confident in the WRSTC's promulgation or emphasis on this given the underwater chaos we all periodically witness.

Standards Downloads - WRSTC

Dive Standards & Medical Statement from the WRSTC

wrstc.com

I think for more advanced hand and arm signals, it's best to work it out with your team. More advanced divers are likely to have refined signals anyways.

The only one I have an allergic reaction to is divers using the shaka in lieu of the pinkie finger for deco obligation. I've never dived with anybody whose skills I respected that used that technique; it's almost always an inexperienced diver short on training. The shaka is too easily confused with "Dude, that was cool!".

I reserve the right to change my mind if I dive with a seasoned, accomplished diver who uses the shaka for deco but I won't be bashful about saying it's a dorky substitute for the pinky.

 

[rick00001967]

i would show students how to use one hand to show me 0 to 9.
if they had 2550 psi they were asked to use one hand to show me....2, 5, 5, 0.
if they had 900 psi they would show me.....9, 0, 0. etc
i never liked when people showed the thousands on their arm etc, or the "fives" method etc
to me using one hand and showing each digit is simple and should not get confused.

i was training with a tech instructor and three other ow instructors once. there was no briefing on how to communicate gas. first problem right ?
at some point on a dive we were asked for our remaining gas. one diver used one hand to show....5, 5, 5.
the trainer assumed the diver meant 550 psi and called the dive (why they never asked to see the gauge to confirm was confusing).
at the surface it was revealed the diver meant 5 + 5 + 5 = 1500 psi
i used that real life example to explain to my ow students why i preferred they show me each digit.

 

[Zef]

snip....Nevertheless, I think that there should be an industry-wide, standardized approach to this for a multitude of reasons....snip

The notion of an idustry-wide, standardized approach to this is an amusing suggestion given that sign language as a developed language system is not stadardized around the world, nor is standardized within a specific country, as somes signs change from region to region within a country, and some signs differ from community to community within regions.

another aspect to consider is the need to communicate aptly and appropriately during an emergency. It’s easy to forget “what was briefed” and revert to old habits when you are task-loaded or stressed, and such mishaps are not what you want during a potential life-or-death situation.

There is no need to belabor an emergency situation in the water with trying faff with limited hand signals. The only signal needed in an emergency is the "end dive" signal....even that isn't standardized as some diving circles use the "thumbs up" signal, and others use crossed knife hands, just to mention a couple. The signal to end a dive is definitely something to include in a pre-dive brief.

The above applies specifically to recreational divers. Tech divers typically don't conduct dives requiring decompression and special gas requirements with "insta-buddies", and most folks conducting technical dives have a healthy amount of experience and have indepth discussions pre-dive that includes communication and emergency procedures.

In a non-deco type dive, the correct answer to any emergency or high stress event below is to get one's head above the surface.

-Z

 

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

I'm just gonna leave this here. (Credit: Randall Monroe, XKCD)

Also, in my (limited) experience, the universal signal for "how much gas do you have?" is your buddy grabbing your SPG to take a look himself

(Joking, but when I take someone new into dark water, I'll definitely do that. Can't see well enough for signaling, and I don't want a relative newbie to drown because they were too focused on searching for teeth)

 

[EFX]

i would show students how to use one hand to show me 0 to 9.
if they had 2550 psi they were asked to use one hand to show me....2, 5, 5, 0.
if they had 900 psi they would show me.....9, 0, 0. etc
i never liked when people showed the thousands on their arm etc, or the "fives" method etc
to me using one hand and showing each digit is simple and should not get confused.

i was training with a tech instructor and three other ow instructors once. there was no briefing on how to communicate gas. first problem right ?
at some point on a dive we were asked for our remaining gas. one diver used one hand to show....5, 5, 5.
the trainer assumed the diver meant 550 psi and called the dive (why they never asked to see the gauge to confirm was confusing).
at the surface it was revealed the diver meant 5 + 5 + 5 = 1500 psi
i used that real life example to explain to my ow students why i preferred they show me each digit.

I agree with you that one handed signals to show gas remaining is better as with all other hand signals. What I and my buddy have used for gas remaining is to signal just the first two numbers. 2,550 psi becomes 2...5, 2,000 is 2...0, 900 is 9...0, 500 is 5...0, etc. From the context of the dive you can tell what pressure is being communicated (2,000 as opposed to 200 psi).

All of the two handed signals given in the WRSTC document can be performed with one hand. Following the NACD (National Association of Cave Divers) handbook on hand signals which all are one handed, the turn around and thumbs up signals have different meanings from the WRSTC doc. The turn around signal means just that; let's go back and look at something we missed. The thumbs up signal in an overhead means we exit the overhead to open water right now. In open water the thumbs up means we go the surface right now skipping the safety stop. To go to a shallower depth the palm up open hand is given while raising the hand. Additionally, a new depth can be signaled.

 

[EFX]

If you adopt the NACD meaning for the one handed thumbs up signal just remember it's a demand signal. It cannot be ignored by your buddy. Buddies should not ask for a followup explanation assuming one can be given. Explanations can wait for the surface. Usually, a diver has a problem that is not an emergency but is such that continuing the dive is unacceptable or might lead to an emergency. The proper response by the buddy is to give the thumbs up signal back to the original diver. Important, do not respond with an OK signal. If it were me giving the signal I wouldn't know for certain if my buddy agreed with my decision or didn't even see my signal and just assumed I was asking if he was OK. As a recreational diver 80% of the signals I get are the I'm OK/are you OK? signal so it's not uncommon for divers to automatically flash the OK signal without really looking at what's being signaled. Once both divers give the thumbs up, continue to the surface (or exit the overhead) at a safe rate.

 

[Edward3c]

To add to the confusion my gauges are in bars, psi means nothing to me.