What's with the hands?

[Walter]

Zieg, when I saw you'd posted here, I thought you'd be responding to:

Well you don't have pockets and ...

 

[Zieg]

Zieg, when I saw you'd posted here, I thought you'd be responding to:

Hey, you're right. As usual, I have pockets, and my hands aren't in the pockets. Hmmm, I must really have had something to say.

 

[Aramisun]

I favor the 'fist bump' pose over the arms crossed pose.
Much more hydrodynamic.
My underarms don't get that cold!

 

[perdidochas]

So I've noticed that many (experienced) divers tend to do this thing with the hands, where they're basically crossing their arms, with Lhand grasping right arm and vice versa. What's the point of this?

I mean, yeah, it looks cool and all, but is there a specific purpose to this pose?

Streamlining. A scuba diver should not use their hands to swim. It also makes you look cool.

On a secondary note, I just got certified. How much is it reasonable to expect my SAC to improve as time goes on? As an (embarassing) example, I just did an aquarium dive (actually my first dive after getting my c-card), where I was down to 25-30' feet about the whole time, and I chewed through 2500 PSI (i.e. from 3000 down to 500) in exactly 40 minutes. (I was a bit nervous at the start of this dive for some reason.)

As time goes by, how much longer would I expect to be able to go in these conditions -- 50 minutes? an hour?

Thanks.

I could do 60-80 minutes, especially if I wasn't moving much.

 

[scubadiver888]

It's the hand signal for I'm bored. I forgot my speargun, camera, lobster gear, now all I can do is drift like a plankton.

Really? I thought it was the signal for hug me, I'm afraid.

 

[Ana]

It could also be a way of telling your buddy what you really think of him, his gear, the dive, the fact that he is taking your picture, etc.

OMG!!!! is that a loose presure gauge I see in your picture? that is so so wooorong

 

[GrandpaScuba]

I mean, yeah, it looks cool and all, but is there a specific purpose to this pose?

Yes - Keep your hands off the reef and don't touch anything.

 

[liuk3]

When I come across people diving with their arms crossed, I just thought it indicated that they were cold.

 

[Beyond_Diving]

it's about streamlining yourself and keeping your hands off the reef/wreck/cavern/whatever

 

[Merchant.r]

I'm newly certified.. 2 weeks ago *cheer*

So my opinion isn't much.

But for me.. I have strong legs. When I kick, I go too fast. I find myself using my hands as a way to go slower and for control.

I know practice, practice..