Underwater Hand Signals

[Divin'Papaw]

Not sure if all of you have seen this yet, but it was new to me. The Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC, http://www.wrstc.com/main.php) - which includes IDEA, PADI, PDIC, SDI, SSI, and the YMCA - have recently approved a standardized set of underwater hand signals.

You can find the document here:
http://www.wrstc.com/downloads.php

Seems quite useful. Enjoy!

 

[DBailey]

At least the photographs are clearer than the cartoons in the PADI OW book.

 

[H2Andy]

hey, they don't have the international sign for "you just kicked my mask off
with your fins, schmuck!

 

[Blackwood]

hey, they don't have the international sign for "you just kicked my mask off
with your fins, schmuck!

haha... maybe because that particular signal is too versatile to pin down to only one specific usage

 

[Mark Vlahos]

hey, they don't have the international sign for "you just kicked my mask off
with your fins, schmuck!

I think that's the same one finger signal as, "You're number one in my book."

Mark Vlahos

 

[DiveMaven]

I think that's the same one finger signal as, "You're number one in my book."

Mark Vlahos

ROFLMAO!!! :lol2: :lol2:

 

[Scuba Jerm]

I like the scuba hand signals and all, but American Sign Language is far better. Granted more diffecult to learn, but my wife and I are fluent and this makes for a great conversation underwater. We can communicate exactly what we want to with no confusion.....unless the vis is horrible. If you dive alot with the same person, sign language may be a good option to help expand your ability to communicate. Just about every community college offers a intro course and that would be all you would need to talk underwater, besides, we are there to see stuff and not talk right? But when we have something important to say, it's nice to communicate clearly without using the slate.

Just a thought.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Vital signals, especially in overhead environments or Tech Diving, should be signed one-handed: http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/divetips.php?s=537.com
(Wouldn't mind learning ASL though. . .).

 

[AaronR103]

My personal favorite is make the "ok" sign with one hand, then make a hook with the other index finger and hook it onto the "ok." That's "Hang in there ************."

A

 

[JodiBB]

I like the scuba hand signals and all, but American Sign Language is far better. Granted more diffecult to learn, but my wife and I are fluent and this makes for a great conversation underwater. We can communicate exactly what we want to with no confusion.....unless the vis is horrible.

I totally agree! I'm also ASL fluent and my friend knows enough that we can communicate on our dives....it's great and we can say so much more than "let's go up" and "out of air"....

The only problem is that ASL isn't international (for those who aren't ASL fluent), where at least these signs through the SCUBA Assocations are...so if you're diving with someone in another country, you'll understand the same signs....until ASL becomes international, you can only use it in the USA.