Standardized hand signals for numbers?

[Rick Murchison]

... I know many cave divers who use some ASL signs when they make sense,...

My favorite "confusion factor" sign is the caver's "I'm stuck" sign, which means "I need to go to the bathroom" in ASL. Maybe both mean "I'm in a tight!" Then again, if ever there were a "context sensitive" sign, that'd be it.
Rick
P.S. I teach the one-handed "cave" numbers in the very first hand signals lesson during OW training.

 

[Rick Inman]

...so I teach these.

Rick

Yup. As with many things in diving, those who have really used this number signaling method with their buddies never seem to go back to the more cumbersome ways. Those who have not tried putting it into practice, criticize it. Like Pete said, it's just so stinkin' simple.

 

[Walter]

DA Aquamaster, you're under some misconceptions. You seem to think one must be proficient in ASL to use ASL numbers. That's simply not true. You seem to think I'm trying to convince you to switch over to ASL numbers. That's also not true. You seem to think ASL numbers are difficult to learn. That's not true either.

 

[The Chairman]

FWIW, I always teach my students to use the BACK of their hand towards the person they are signaling to. The five looks too much like "Stop!" otherwise and I ask that their fingers remain together.

 

[Blackwood]

I learned this system as a Naval Aviator
...

So my question, I guess to Walter, is: who really re-invented the wheel, the US Navy or the US Navy?

 

[Zieg]

So my question, I guess to Walter, is: who really re-invented the wheel, the US Navy or the US Navy?

Just look at the Navy dive Manual, it uses the number system that Walter referenced. I don't know or care what system the Airdales are using, I'm diving.

 

[Blackwood]

Just look at the Navy dive Manual, it uses the number system that Walter referenced. I don't know or care what system the Airdales are using, I'm diving.

I fly in the water.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

DA Aquamaster, you're under some misconceptions. You seem to think one must be proficient in ASL to use ASL numbers. That's simply not true. You seem to think I'm trying to convince you to switch over to ASL numbers. That's also not true. You seem to think ASL numbers are difficult to learn. That's not true either.

It is a relative thing. We can argue about how "hard" it is to learn the ASL numbers, but the fact remains it is eisier to teach the basic cave signs number system than it is to teach ASL simply because it is much more intuitive with only one addition to how nearly everyone already counts on their fingers already.

And it sounds like that if you are not asking me to switch to ASL numbers then you are in agreement that it makes mores sense to promote an easier system.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

My favorite "confusion factor" sign is the caver's "I'm stuck" sign, which means "I need to go to the bathroom" in ASL. Maybe both mean "I'm in a tight!" Then again, if ever there were a "context sensitive" sign, that'd be it.
Rick

Too true. Marci was about 1 or 2 dives into the she pee learning curve and stopped in the middle of a large tunnel for a minute or so. When I asked her what was up, I got the "stuck" which made no sense given where she was at - then after a couple repeats I realized she had come to a full stop to use the pee valve and was not signing "stuck" at all so I gave her some space.

 

[Walter]

We can argue about how "hard" it is to learn the ASL numbers, but the fact remains it is eisier to teach the basic cave signs number system than it is to teach ASL simply because it is much more intuitive with only one addition to how nearly everyone already counts on their fingers already.

Intuitive would be to use 2 hands. Neither of us want that approach. They are both extremely easy to learn.

And it sounds like that if you are not asking me to switch to ASL numbers then you are in agreement that it makes mores sense to promote an easier system.

I am in agreement with you on that. We simply disagree as to which system that is. I'm not asking you to switch because I don't care which system we use. If we ever dive together, I'll read your cave numbers (slowly please) and you can read my ASL numbers.