![]() ![]() Some excitable divers end up swimming way too fast through the water. This signal is easily seen and will catch the attention of other divers to get your message across. If you want to signal “stop,” extend an arm out in front of you while holding your hand up palm facing out, as if to push something away. They may need to rest, change course, check out a critter or simply take a photo. ![]() This lets fellow divers and your guide know it’s time to finish the dive together.įor whatever reason, divers sometimes need to stop. If you’re low on air, which is normally considered 70 bar/1000 psi, you create a fist with your hand and tap it your chest. ![]() If you’re running low on air, you must tell other divers so that you can perform your safety stop and ascend together. A half-tank is indicated by making a “T” sign with your hands. In response, your buddy will signal how much air he has by holding up fingers to represent the bar/psi shown on his gauge. To ask them how much air they have, you’ll tap two fingers lightly onto the palm of your opposite hand, with your palm facing upward or outward. It’s a good idea to stay on top of your dive buddy’s air levels too. To do this, you hold one hand horizontally on top of three vertically positioned fingers on the opposite hand, with those three fingers meaning “three minutes.” It should be used on every dive to signal the safety stop, which is conducted at 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 m).ĭivers should check their air supply every few minutes. The dive guide gives this at the end of the dive. Pay attention to your dive guide at the beginning of the dive and near the end, particularly.Īlso important is the three-minute safety stop signal. This way all divers act together to maintain the buddy system and ensure safety. If you’re going to ascend or descend it must be a collective decision. This is why you must know your “go up” and “go down” signals, which are nothing more than thumbs-up and thumbs-down hand signs. It’s important to give and follow direction throughout a dive. It’s a great way to gauge your buddy’s comfort and maintain awareness of one another. Most divers check with their buddy by using this hand gesture several times during a dive. Inform your buddy quickly if something is wrong, so that you can either fix it or end the dive safely.Īmong the most common diving hand signals - and simple - this dive signal means “are you okay?” Both a question and an answer, you’ll make the “okay” sign just as you would on land, forming a circle with your thumb and index finger and raising your remaining three fingers. This signal could mean a problem with anything. You could be struggling to equalize your ears, or you may have a problem with your dive gear. To use this signal, put your hand out horizontally in front of you and tilt it side-to-side, (much as you would signal that something was “so-so” on land) then point to where you’re experiencing difficulty. ![]() This one is important because it is used to let your dive buddy or guide know that something’s wrong. In no particular order, here are some of the most common diving hand signals. Although divers use many hand signals, the most common ones are, unsurprisingly, the most important. One might ask their dive buddy if they’re okay, how much air they have, or signal a problem. Hand signals also help to maintain safety during a dive. First and foremost, signaling is necessary to communicate intentions and give direction, such as whether to go up or down. Divers know that good communication is key to not only having an enjoyable dive, but also to completing a safe one. ![]()
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