Diving hand signals

Diving hand signals are specific gestures used by scuba divers to communicate with each other underwater. The use of hand signals is considered a fundamental aspect of underwater diving safety and efficiency.

Overview

Diving hand signals are used to convey information, respond to questions, and communicate intentions or needs. They are typically simple, clear, and easy to understand, even in low visibility conditions. The signals are designed to be understood universally, regardless of the diver's language or nationality.

Common Diving Hand Signals

Some of the most common diving hand signals include:

• "OK": A circle made by touching the thumb and index finger, with the other fingers extended. This is used to indicate that everything is fine.
• "Problem": A flat hand waved back and forth, indicating a problem or distress.
• "Up": A thumb pointed upwards, indicating the need or intention to ascend.
• "Down": A thumb pointed downwards, indicating the need or intention to descend.
• "Stop": A flat hand held up, indicating the need to stop.

Variations

While there is a general consensus on the basic diving hand signals, variations can exist between different diving organizations or regions. For example, the signal for "OK" in some areas might be a thumbs-up, which in other areas could mean "ascend". It's important for divers to review and agree on the signals they will use before diving together.

Training and Use

Training in the use of diving hand signals is a key part of scuba diving training. Divers are taught the signals during their initial certification and are expected to use them throughout their diving career. The use of hand signals is not only for safety but also for efficient communication underwater where verbal communication is not possible.

See Also

• Underwater diving
• Scuba diving
• Diving organizations
• Scuba diving training