Thumbs Up

[OE2X]

For me I use the thumb and pinky extended to signal "Cool Dude!". The only time I use a thumbs up is to go to the surface.

 

[simbrooks]

Thumbs up is a command/action signal, we also use it to signal exiting of a cave, usually due to gas turn pressure, but sometimes other reasons - usually unless its urgent it just means casually amble out at your own pace. I usually add on another signal after the thumb to say i am at turn or whatever the issue is. A very vigourous thumb or other signals such as OOA get a quicker exit, and a thumb really isnt necessary, however in that situation i would like to take a second to make sure they are calm and ok with the donated gas before making the exit as we should have plenty of air to get out. As to your situation, a hooked index finger can also be used to intimate a question of doing something, such as asking about thumbing the dive say due to cold, boredom etc with a little extra signal for those too. Would i have blown the safety stop, if the thumb was more vigourous yes, gone up slowly and such, if not i might also question them and suggest the stop just for safety's sake.

 

[Brian1968]

Incidentally, has anyone ever encountered divers who (unwittingly or otherwise) use the thumbs-up to signal "OK" or "yeah!"?

Several. And not always with newer divers. Here, too, reading it in to the context of the situation was necessary.

 

[Uncle Pug]

The only time I use a thumbs up is to go to the surface.

Yeah... and sometimes you get the palm up *whatsupwiththatletshanghereabitlonger* back.

 

[JasonH20]

Jason let me add that it depends on what you observe of your buddy as well... even with the group you are diving with.

If your buddy has signalled cold or is appearing at all distressed then the only acknowledgement should be to return the thumbs up and ascend.

For example a week ago when Bob had a veritgo episode and was holding onto the piling... his single thumb was enough!

I guess that was why I took it as a question rather than a statement. The dive had gone well, and there were no extenuating circumstances to lead me to believe there were any problems.

Incidentally, has anyone ever encountered divers who (unwittingly or otherwise) use the thumbs-up to signal "OK" or "yeah!"?

Yea, I did that in my Discover Scuba dive in Hawaii. I realized it immediately, shook my hands back and forth and then gave the OK signal. I'm sure those intructor's are use to that though.

For me I use the thumb and pinky extended to signal "Cool Dude!".

I think I'll start trying this one. The OK signal just doesn't cut it when you see something really cool!

 

[OneBrightGator]

You need to clear your signals with your buddy ahead of the dive.

Like Simon said, for us the thumb is a command signal that means "I am leaving, please join me" and a thumb is returned. There are plenty of other signals (turn around, point up, level off) that you can use to ask what your buddy wants to do that you shouldn't mess with the thumb.

 

[simbrooks]

For each signal i like to have it returned so i know that what i have tried to communicate has gotten through - same back, be it the thumb, levelling off going somewhere, doing something etc.

 

[aquaticaggie]

My buddies and I always use a double thumbs up for dire emergencies (not that we have ever needed to exercise this)as not to be confused with anything else. Plus, at least to me, gives a sense of urgency to the situation and warrant more attention and concentration to safely resolving the situation. For changing depth levels of asending for a safety stop whaterver, we use the index and middle finger kicking up or down to indicate direction (asending or desending) and target depth with a "level off" gesture. This helps us to keep from inadvertantly calling a dive and to better understand one anothers motives. But if all fails revert to the kiss method and whip out the old slate!

 

[cmcarver]

I would have questioned his ascent also. Had he been experiancing problems or gave a "NOT OK" sign prior to the thumbs up then there would be no question to ascend. Don't forget the wobble your hand with thumb and fingers extended is a univeral sign for something is not right. We were told that the thumbs up is just like the thumbs down on the surface. You're asking if the other person is ready to ascend. Then you are to perform your checks and start your ascent.

 

[grazie42]

Another option is to preface any "command sign" (like a thumb) with a "question mark-sign". I use this a lot when asking buddies whether they want to enter the wreck, go right or left or just about any other sign. Starting a non-urgent communication with a questionmark lets people relax, sort of like an indicator that what comes next is just smalltalk...