Diving signal

Diving signal

Diving Signals are a form of sign system used by SCUBA divers to communicate when underwater.

Some diving equipment such as full face diving masks and diving helmets include voice communication equipment but most divers in recreational diving do not possess expensive equipment like that and must use Diving Signals.

Hand signals

[
cramping] In most situations simple hand signals are used. The most basic ones are:
* Thumb up = "let's go up"
* Thumb down = "let's go down"
* Circle with thumb and index finger, while keeping middle finger straight = "I'm OK" or "Are you OK?"
* "Cutting" or "chopping" throat with a flat hand = "I'm out of air".
* Wobbling a flat hand = "I have a minor problem"
* Waving the forearm in a wide arc = "emergency!"
* Hugging chest = "I am cold!"
* Hands indicating rising and falling chest = "I am out of breath!"
* Repeatedly clenching and unclenching fist = "I have cramp"
* Shrugging shoulders, arms bent, palms up = "I don't know" or "I don't understand"
* Index fingers of both hands extended, brought together repeatedly = "let's buddy up"

Signal variations

Diving signals sometimes differ between groups of divers. Some variations include:
* The throat cut signal: "general danger".
* Tapping the mouthpiece: "I'm out of air".
* Pointing at the ear: "I can't clear that ear"; or "listen!"
* Pointing at someone: changes the reference of the next signal from "I" to the diver pointed at.
* Pointing at side of head with screwing movement: "I am dizzy"; or "there is a boat moving about" (the screwing represents a propeller).
* First finger up/down: "lets go up/down".
* Thumb up: "I am OK" (often with naval divers); or "lets go up".
* Forming a large circle with both hands above the head: "I'm OK", as the OK sign can be difficult to see from a distance.

Divers sometimes invent local signals for local situations, often to point out local wildlife. For example:
* Both fists against sides of head: "I see a hammerhead shark".
* Fist with index and middle finger pointed out horizontally and alternately waggling up and down: "I see a lobster".
* Hand covering mouth, all fingers pointing outward from mouth and wiggling: "I see an octopus".

Other signals:
*hand flat thumb against forehead or chest: shark.
*moving hand across torse in wave motion: current.
*hands flat one on top of each other waving thumbs: turtle.

Torch / flashlight signals

The focused beam of a torch can be used for basic signalling as well.
* Drawing a circle on the ground in front of buddy = the OK signal
* Waving the torch = attention please!

Normally a diver does not shine a torch / flashlight in another diver's eyes but directs the beam to his or her own hand signal.

Rope signals

These are generally used in conditions of low visibility where a diver is connected to another person, either another diver or a tender on the surface, by a rope.

The British Sub Aqua Club rope signals are:
* One pull = OK? "or" Yes I am OK
* Two pulls = Stay put "or" I am stationary
* Three pulls = Go down "or" I am going down
* Four pulls = Come up "or" I am coming up
* Continuous pulls = Emergency: bringing you to the surface "or" Emergency: bring me to the surface

Public Safety Divers and many recreational divers use the following line signals while conducting circular and arc searches underwater.

Tender to diver
* One pull on the line: okay, okay?
* Two pulls: stop, take out slack, reverse direction
* Three pulls: come to the surface
* Four pulls: stop, don't move (there could be danger ahead or a boat entering the search area)

Diver to tender
* One pull on the line: okay, okay?
* Two pulls: advance line
* Three pulls: object found
* Four or more pulls: assistance needed


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Diving regulator — and Octopus Other names Demand valve Uses Reduces pressurized breathing gas to ambient pressure and delivers it to the diver Inventor Manuel Théodore Guillaumet (1838), Benoît Rouquayrol (1860) …   Wikipedia

  • Scuba diving — Not to be confused with Self contained breathing apparatus, which describes breathing sets used out of water. Scuba diver Scuba diving ( SCUBA originally being an acronym for self contained underwater breathing apparatus, now widely considered a… …   Wikipedia

  • Glossary of SCUBA diving — Here is a glossary of scuba diving terms: Contents 1 A F 2 G L 3 M R 4 S Z A F Altitude Diving  diving at a locat …   Wikipedia

  • International maritime signal flags — The set of signal flags on the bridge of the Liberty ship SS Jeremiah O Brien The system of international maritime signal flags is one system of flag signals representing individual letters of the alphabet in signals to or from ships. It is a… …   Wikipedia

  • skin-diving — (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) n. scuba diving, snorkeling. WORD FIND • air flow apparatus: regulator • ascend slowly, stop, ascend: decompress • breathing tube for shallow swimming: snorkel • dangerous narcotic effect of deep water diving: nitrogen… …   English dictionary for students

  • Сигналы (дайвинг) — У этого термина существуют и другие значения, см. Сигнал (значения). Дайв сигналы  набор жестов, используемый аквалангистами для общения под водой. Некоторые виды снаряжения для подводных погружений, такие как полнолицевые маски, шлемы… …   Википедия

  • Tauchzeichen — sind Gesten oder andere, meist nonverbale Zeichen zur Verständigung zwischen Tauchern unter Wasser. Die Kenntnis grundlegender Tauchzeichen gehört zu jeder Tauchausbildung, um beispielsweise seinem Tauchpartner mitteilen zu können, wenn etwas… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Дайвинг-сигналы — Дайв сигналы набор жестов, используемый аквалангистами для общения под водой. Некоторые виды снаряжения для подводных погружений, такие как полнолицевые маски, шлемы включают в себя оборудование для голосового общения, однако подавляющее… …   Википедия

  • Thumbs up — For the Chinese newspaper, see Thumbs Up (newspaper). For the Indian Cola drink, see Thums UpA thumbs up or thumbs down is a common gesture represented by a closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward in approval or disapproval… …   Wikipedia

  • Manual communication — Pupils in a traditional classroom situation signal to their teacher that they want to be heard …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”