Would you understand my hand signal?

[scubadiver888]

So in another thread there was some talk of hand signals not having universal meaning and which could cause confusion so I thought I'd test mine quickly. These are the signals that we use most often and I thought they'd be universally understood but now I'm not so sure. I'm interested to know how you would have interpreted my hand signals if I dived with you and we did not discuss these beforehand. Also, I'd be interested to know how you would have signaled these messages. I'll put the meanings to my signals below so you can first read the signal and consider what it would have meant to you.

(in most cases "left" and "right" can be switched)

I dive in the Caribbean a lot. I've found some things are universal but I'm always learning a new hand signal from people I meet. I meet a lot of Europeans and Americans when in the Caribbean.

1. Open hand, palm facing downwards, rotating the hand left and right at the wrist. Then point to my ear with my index finger.

This is fairly universal. We teach this to the Discover Scuba Diving students.

2. One hand open, palm facing downwards. Other hand in thumbs up position with thumb touching the palm of open hand.

This one is new to me. Makes sense but I have never had anyone give me this signal before.

3. Same as 2 but upside down. In other words one hand is open with palm facing upwards. Other hand in thumbs down position with thumb touching the palm of open hand.

Once I understand what option 2 means, this would make sense to me as well but it is also not a hand signal was previously familiar with.

4. Fist of right hand pressed against left shoulder, fingers towards body OR fist of right hand held with elbow bent at 90 degrees, fingers showing towards other diver.

This is close to a common hand signal for me. Hand doesn't necessarily have to be to the left shoulder. I tend to tap my fist against the centre of my chest.

5. Point to other diver with index finger of left hand then make "handgun" sign with left hand (closed hand with index finger and thumb extended) and make "handgun" sign with right hand and point in the same direction as left hand but behind left hand.

Totally the same for me. This is the signal I'd use exactly the same.

6. Both hands open with palms upwards (shrugging motion) followed by index and middle finger of right hand pressed onto left upper arm.

Was never formally taught this but I was given it on a dive in the Caribbean. Was in a group of 12 divers and taking up the rear as the DM lead us to a ship wreck. Due to boat traffic around the wreck we anchored 100' from the wreck and swam to it. Visibility was 15'. Half way to the wreck, everyone started to bunch up. I looked at the guys immediately in front of me. Everyone was looking around and giving this signal. That is when I realized none of these people were the DM. Turned out someone with a camera and no buoyancy control was floating to the surface so the DM had to chase after them before they got hit by an overhead boat.

7. Both hands open with palms upwards followed by extended index fingers of both hands held side by side.

Um, if I lost my buddy I'm on my own so there is no one to give a signal to.

 

[mrmagoo560]

I have an advantage when diving,I know sign language.My son is deaf and I have been signing for 25 years,I have also taught sign to diving couples that I met at my LDS and they loved it.I always teach some basic signs to my dive buddies when we first start diving together and they learn alot more as time goes on.I'm suprised organizations like PADI don't recommend that to new divers.It is a standardized form of communication and limitless as to what you can say underwater as long as you and your buddy can see each other.

 

[WVMike]

1. I agree and do it this way.

2 and 3. I do like TS&M described

4, 5, 6, and 7. I do like Thal described

 

[WVMike]

I always teach some basic signs to my dive buddies when we first start diving together and they learn alot more as time goes on..

Which basic signs do you start with?

 

[AbyssalPlains]

1. Trouble equalizing.

2. Not sure. Let’s do a safety stop? Or, “Careful, overhead environment?”

3. Descend to bottom?

4. Fist of right hand pressed against left shoulder, fingers towards body:
Low on air.

OR fist of right hand held with elbow bent at 90 degrees, fingers showing towards other diver:
No idea. Can’t even picture this.

5. Point to other diver with index finger of left hand then make "handgun" sign with left hand (closed hand with index finger and thumb extended) and make "handgun" sign with right hand and point in the same direction as left hand but behind left hand.
Not sure; I will follow you?

6. Both hands open with palms upwards (shrugging motion) followed by index and middle finger of right hand pressed onto left upper arm.
No idea. A question (“I don’t know”) but no idea what the two fingers pressing onto left upper arm are supposed to mean.

7. Both hands open with palms upwards followed by extended index fingers of both hands held side by side.

Hmm. Why are we not buddied up?

 

[Tortuga68]

I have an advantage when diving,I know sign language.My son is deaf and I have been signing for 25 years,I have also taught sign to diving couples that I met at my LDS and they loved it.I always teach some basic signs to my dive buddies when we first start diving together and they learn alot more as time goes on.I'm suprised organizations like PADI don't recommend that to new divers.It is a standardized form of communication and limitless as to what you can say underwater as long as you and your buddy can see each other.

I have a cousin who uses sign lanuage, and have dived with a couple of buddy pairs who signed - it can defintely be an advantage. But most divers only need a small 'vocabulary' - and as you move on, being able to use one-handed signals becomes more important (once you're deploying SMBs and doing other things that occupy one hand). But if you have the skill already, it's great, so long as the person you're signing to also understands of course

 

[Fdge]

Trouble with sign language is that it's not the same everywhere you go, just like scuba hand signals. It's only useful with the same buddy, or people from the same country who bothered to learn it.

 

[Walter]

Trouble with sign language is that it's not the same everywhere you go, just like scuba hand signals. It's only useful with the same buddy, or people from the same country who bothered to learn it.

Different countries have different languages?

 

[Tortuga68]

List of sign languages - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[MisterPG]

...This is a great discussion, because it really points out how important it is to run through signals before you get in the water with someone who trained in a different place or with different teachers.

Amen!