Underwater communications

[TSandM]

One of the big insights I had from the class I took this weekend had to do with communication under water. I had a problem with a drill because I was too diffident with my signals. The instructor took over, and he made it entirely CLEAR what he wanted.

It occurred to me in thinking about the class that that was true throughout. When this guy told you something, there was no ambiguity or uncertainty about it.

One of the things he pointed out to us was that, if you are using your hands to dive, your signals are always diluted by the noise of your other movement. Therefore, figuring out how to control your buoyancy without your hands is important for communication skills -- makes sense, but nobody ever put it that way before.

Another thing, which I HAVE heard before, is to get your hands away from your body, where the signal is easier to see.

And finally, give a signal with confidence, assertively. Make sure before you dive that you and your buddy are clear on the important signals -- not only what they ARE, but what the proper RESPONSE should be. Agreeing on a response allows you to be sure that your buddy has received and understood your signal.

Many of the most frustrating and unsatisfying experiences I have had underwater have had to do with communication snafus. I got a good example this weekend of how to avoid them, and wanted to pass these ideas along.

(Sorry Bob)

 

[jiveturkey]

Which class were you taking? I agree with what you're saying. But I find I have to review my signals with pretty much every new buddy before diving. Everyone has different signals. Of course the biggies like OOA are pretty much standard.

 

[jeckyll]

Hey now, what happend to the 30 day posting hiatus post fundies???

You're such a scubaboard addict TSnM

 

[TSandM]

Well, it does help if everybody has learned the same signals, which they should if they are trained in the same system.

OOA is standard . . . but my problem is that I wasn't EMPHATIC enough with the signal, and that allowed my buddy to misinterpret it as something else. When the instructor eventually came over my shoulder spitting his reg out and waving his arms and SCREAMING "out of air!" with his signals, there wasn't any further doubt. It was an object lesson for me, as were all his underwater signals during the weekend. He doesn't have any doubt about what he's trying to say, or how to say it, so everything is very, very clear.

jeckyll, I was VERY careful to make the post as general as possible . . . and I'm a teacher by temperament, and couldn't resist the opportunity to pass along what I thought was a really good lesson. Bob will be disappointed in me.

 

[Sasquatch]

Good topic. Good suggestions.

I find more frustration in the process of getting someones attention so that I can communicate with hand signals or to get them to look at the slate. Eventually a buddy check will happen but it may be too late to point out something really cool. I used a shaker in the tropics and that always got people looking around. I don't see them here, though (Pacific NW).

 

[jiveturkey]

Good topic. Good suggestions.

I find more frustration in the process of getting someones attention so that I can communicate with hand signals or to get them to look at the slate. Eventually a buddy check will happen but it may be too late to point out something really cool. I used a shaker in the tropics and that always got people looking around. I don't see them here, though (Pacific NW).

They don't work as well in cold water. Hoods block the sound. Unless your buddy is paying attention it won't work very well.

 

[jiveturkey]

Well, it does help if everybody has learned the same signals, which they should if they are trained in the same system.

I haven't found that to be very practical. It's more a different instructor/regional
thing than an system or agency thing.

 

[jeckyll]

....

jeckyll, I was VERY careful to make the post as general as possible . . . and I'm a teacher by temperament, and couldn't resist the opportunity to pass along what I thought was a really good lesson. Bob will be disappointed in me.

You know that I was just giving you a hard time because it's Bobs rule and I know you dive with him a lot. Too good an opportunity to pass up. As well I really enjoyed both yours and Ricks updates and may decide to go down that path once I've got my rescue sometime next year.

As for your point, I think it is well made. I doubt that most people take enough pre-dive time to actually review signals as well as situations that will require action on parts of the buddies (I'm staying away from the "t" word here on purpose). It's just not very "cool", is it?



Bjorn

 

[Snowbear]

Bob will be disappointed in me.

Somehow I doubt that

 

[Snowbear]

...I used a shaker in the tropics and that always got people looking around. I don't see them here, though (Pacific NW).

An HID waving frantically in your field of view works pretty good to say, "HEY!!! I gotta problem here!!!"

If you want to get your buddy's attention in a non-emergency, a slow back and forth arc or figure 8 in her or his field of view is unmistakable.

What *IS* mistakable is the errant light waving that sometimes happens when the buddy forgets to redirect the beam when doing something like a mask clear :11: