hand signaling

[jafo]

Please excuse me if this has been coverd before. The searches I did didn't come up with anything. How do you hand signal you remaining air pressure to your buddy or dive leader?

[jafo]

Sorry on the fat finger on the title. That's one thing they don't let you edit.

[nauifins73]

Just about everyone does it a bit different. The Instr I work with draws a circle in the palm of his hand and then wants the students to count it out in 5's (all five fingers at once).

I teach Seasigns (www.seasigns.com). We have a definite sign for pressure OR you can fin over to your buddy and check his SPG. :)

[DeepDiverBob]

I like to use 1 hand. If my hand is turned side ways, its a multiple of 10. I dont like seeing people signal 2300 psi by flashing their hand 5 times.

[scububa]

I am with DDB on this one. But, I wonder if he meant you add five if your hand is sideways. i.e. 2 fingers held straight up represents 2. Same 2 fingers held at 90 degrees to up (or sideways) represents 7.

So, 1750 =
1 up
2 sideways
5 up
solid fist

This allows signaling when you are task loaded with the other hand. Light, up line, reel, ripping your buddies regulator out, etc. It allows you to shine light on one hand with the other.

http://www.scubadiver.cc/handsignals/uwcounting.htm

[SLIM]

Good one there buba, Yes that is the corect method that is tought in Technical diving. The numbers can be used for many more things then just your PSI left. There are so many differant hand siganls that are tought. I think that once you get in to Technical diving the comunications are much more standard. In the OW training I have seen it tought many ways and it can be confusing if they go to fast.

SLIM

[do it easy]

I am with DDB on this one. But, I wonder if he meant you add five if your hand is sideways. i.e. 2 fingers held straight up represents 2. Same 2 fingers held at 90 degrees to up (or sideways) represents 7.

So, 1750 =
1 up
2 sideways
5 up
solid fist

This allows signaling when you are task loaded with the other hand. Light, up line, reel, ripping your buddies regulator out, etc. It allows you to shine light on one hand with the other.

http://www.scubadiver.cc/handsignals/uwcounting.htm

The other part is to turn the wrist so that the palm is facing your buddy for 1-5, and knuckles are facing your buddy for 6-9.

[theskull]

I like the multiple 5s Naufins speaks of when I'm with students, who by the way are not likely to have more than 2000 by the time I ask them.

With anyone beyond the student level, if I ask for pressure, I just want to know that they have checked within the last couple minutes and the answer I'm looking for is OK -- or Low -- or Turn the Dive.

theskull

[nauifins73]

Seasigns is based on ASL and the numbers in the link are different - could be confused if diving with someone that knew or used Sign Language.

Don't get me started on the sign for shark. :D

[reefraff]

Same as scububa but rounding down to the nearest 100 psi.

So, 1750 = 17--
1 up
2 sideways

[scububa]

Points noted...
I was using the 'tens' to fill out the example. I agree that I would normally round to 100's, but I would put the "zero-zero" in at the end. It helps to differentiate the number from other numbers.

I also agree that most of the time "Are you okay, is your air okay" just needs a "I am keeping up with it" answer. At other times, the burn rate might be a factor to communicate.

Absolutely the numbers can be used for criteria other than psi.

Flat Hand palm down
3 sideways
fist
= let's level off at 80 ft.

Finger tracing watch on wrist
1 up
4 sideways
= I have 19 minutes of deco

Hand over head
Finger tracing watch
1 sideways
= I have 6 minutes of NDL time left

As far as diving with someone that is using ASL. Well, I think that would be covered pre-dive and not be a confusion factor underwater. I would think a lot of things would need to be factored in if ASL is required including topside comms.

Or, as I have heard on the surface after a dive..."So, what was that puppet show all about?"

[SLIM]

Well Mr buba, nice one for your deco but what if you are going to ask how much deco do you have?

The sign for deco is an easy one. You will learn it later this month, LOL

I am going to see if you can research and tell me during the class.

SLIM

On a side note, the guage at RBD is up, I did not think it was stuck, the area just had not gotten enough rain to get in the creek, the ground was aso dry.

[scubado]

Agree with the Skull. There's a difference between signs for beginners and tech. Bottom line - divers need to discuss the sign language that will be used on the surface rather than making assumptions and finding out underwater that you're on a different page from your dive buddy.

[DeepDiverBob]

I also agree with TS, unless I am working a class, or diving with someone I have never dove with before, I hardly ever ask for pressure. As a matter of fact, in all the dives I have ever done with TS, I guarantee I have never asked him his pressure.


There is a nice little booklet out there that has a bunch of technical diving hand signals. Its amazing how many cavers I have dove with lately that dont know the hand signal for bubbles.

[do it easy]

There is a nice little booklet out there that has a bunch of technical diving hand signals. Its amazing how many cavers I have dove with lately that dont know the hand signal for bubbles.

It that the one that's kinda like a small pinching motion with the thumb and index finger- it looks like "a little bit." The bigger the bubble, the bigger the pinch.

[scububa]

Well Mr buba, nice one for your deco but what if you are going to ask how much deco do you have?

The sign for deco is an easy one. You will learn it later this month, LOL

I am going to see if you can research and tell me during the class.

SLIM



Okay, I think I have an answer, but it is probably far too logical to be correct!

(BTW, I eliminated rolling over with the belly up - as in looking like a dead fish!)

[theskull]

It that the one that's kinda like a small pinching motion with the thumb and index finger- it looks like "a little bit." The bigger the bubble, the bigger the pinch.

That's it. Usually followed by pointing back at the reg or valve where the bubbles are coming from. . .

. . . and if I had just noticed the bubbles during the dive, I might also want to know what air pressure my buddy still had!

theskull