Scuba Diving Hand Signals - How To Communicate Underwater Without Even Having To Speak

 

One thing that most people have to get to know when they begin Scuba Diving is their body's signals. They are used for breathing, moving underwater, and alerting other divers to your location. A good place to start is to learn what the popular scuba diving hand signals are. This article will show you the basic ones and what you need to know when using them. This information will be invaluable to you once you begin Scuba Diving with friends or groups.

Everyone can learn to send these basic scuba diving hand signals quite easily if they are willing to take the time. The OK sign is probably one of the more popular. It looks like a ball, which is kind of hard to miss. When you press the OK sign, you are telling other divers to ignore anything below that area and not to bother you. Since it is a popular signal it will almost always be used in a group situation.

The first of the scuba diving hand signals is called the PADI open water course. This is the basic open water course. Basically it consists of wearing a wetsuit and a mask so that you don't come up missing. The scuba signals that you will use here include the OK, the DEX, and the UP signal. These three signals should be used in conjunction with each other to make sure you can work together properly. padi hand signals

The next popular scuba diving hand signals is the index finger signal. In order to send this signal you must place your middle and index finger in front of your pulse oximeter device with your palm facing up. The index finger is the weak arm of the signal operator and the one that should be most lightly pressed against the pulse oximeter's body clip. If you have never been trained in this manner then it's a good idea to get some training before you attempt this one.

Another popular way to communicate underwater is through the use of your closed fist. What makes this method so popular is that your open hand is now covered by your closed fist, or fist and thumb. What this does is cover your open hand's blood flow pathway, which is crucial to the success of this method. One common mistake that people make when they use the closed fist method is that their open hand goes through their thumb and fingers instead of the back up. It is critical that you train yourself to remember to close your fist as part of your scuba diving hand signals so that your underwater communication with your buddy stays on target.

Lastly there is the air hand signal. This is the classic method that professional divers use everyday to communicate with each other. Basically, all you have to do is breathe from your mouth. Hold your breath for a few seconds, count to ten, and hold your breath once again. Next, press your lips against the glass of the mask and blow very gently through your nose. These are not the only possible underwater signals used but they are some of the more commonly used ones.