Question Tech signs to indicate next stop depth/duration

[NothingClever]

For example dive plan was first stop 21m, second 15m but now that diver’s computer says, after completing the 21m stop, that the next stop is 18m

Might be my inexperience as a simple wreck and wall technical diver but I haven’t come across a profile during planning (using MultiDeco) that has a meaningful stop at 21m and skips to 15m but then reveals a “surprise” stop at 18m during execution. If anything, during planning I’ll see the 21m stop as the first ghost stop that evaporates during the gas switch or ascent and the first meaningful stop is 18m or later.

That aside, once we’ve started the decompression schedule, I’m going to smoothly climb the ladder “one rung” at a time leaving room (without dawdling) for my teammate to signal “ascend” or “hold” as we steadily go up.

If I have time at a stop, I signal:

- Me (thumb to my chest)
- Deco (pinky)
- Time (index finger pointed at watch)
- Number indicating minutes of decompression required or remaining for that stop depth

Like @inquis and @tbone1004 said, the longer stopping diver drives the schedule at that point.

To me, the stops are known (21, 18, 15, etc) and the time is the unknown. It seems to me time is the more important topic to communicate.

Agree with @tbone1004 - less talking is better.

 

[NothingClever]

Just to make sure, A1 for me is this:

Hesham’s “broken” signal is broken.

 

[Mobulai]

Hesham’s “broken” signal is broken.

True

 

[J-Vo]

.
To me, the stops are known (21, 18, 15, etc) and the time is the unknown. It seems to me time is the more important topic to communicate.

For the initial ascent, depth is most important, time can be discussed later. When you get to bigger dives a couple minutes deviation in time can equal 10/20' (3/6m) difference in first stop depth. Not agreeing on target depth is asking for team separation.

 

[inquis]

would that diver reply aggreeing with A1, but also specifying the depth with an A2 sign since it’s deviating from the dive plan?

Agree + disagree is confusing. He would start with "No" -- the finger waggle -- for clarity. Then A1 + the deeper depth. A1+that depth would be returned by the other diver and confirmed as correct by the limiting diver.

 

[NothingClever]

For the initial ascent, depth is most important, time can be discussed later. When you get to bigger dives a couple minutes deviation in time can equal 10/20' (3/6m) difference in first stop depth. Not agreeing on target depth is asking for team separation.

Agreed and I’m betting we’d cover that (the first stop) really well in planning.

 

[Rogerdd]

Agree + disagree is confusing. He would start with "No" -- the finger waggle -- for clarity. Then A1 + the deeper depth. A1+that depth would be returned by the other diver and confirmed as correct by the limiting diver.

Said this way, it is indeed more clear and avoids confusion. Thanks for the feedback.
If the diver who gets this additional stop, different from the initial dive planning, is already the one giving the ascent signals to the team; would they then just do A1-A2 instead of A1 only?

We talked about the ascent signs and consensus is to start with the ascent sign followed by inidicating the depth to ascend to but not the duration.
But once arriving at the stop, what are the usual signs used?
1) nothing,
2) just a flat hand left-right to hold that depth,
3) or 2) followed by the time needed to spend at that stop?

Can always show/ask teammates on request how much deco is left at that depth by showing pinky up (+ pointing at computer) + show number of minutes with minutes. But I was wondering if it’s also usually done at each stop right after arriving at the planned depth

 

[inquis]

If the diver who gets this additional stop, different from the initial dive planning, is already the one giving the ascent signals to the team; would they then just do A1-A2 instead of A1 only?

Yes, the depth of the first stop is always given. Even if diver #2 is showing a shallower stop on their computer, they would respond with the depth given by #1.

 

[inquis]

But once arriving at the stop, what are the usual signs used?

When arriving, my experience is typically nothing. When the leader clears, #2 would have already cleared (and agree to the ascent) or signal their remaining time at that point (and become the new leader).

 

[inquis]

To me, the stops are known (21, 18, 15, etc) and the time is the unknown. It seems to me time is the more important topic to communicate.

Probably depends on the team. I already have an estimate of the time on my wrist, so the bottom line to me is cleared vs not. However, some people like more "granular" feedback/info; even if it doesn't impact their actions, it can give peace of mind.