How many times have you been diving with someone who has made a gesture underwater that you didn’t understand? Then, when you shrug, indicating that you don’t understand, they gesture more and more wildly, trying to convey their thoughts? Well, here’s a list of 18 underwater hand signals that every scuba diver should know. It includes all the biggies: “Something’s Wrong”; “I Need Air”; “Boat Overhead.”
Of course, long-time buddies always make up their own signals. For example, my father rubs his belly to signal he’s enjoying the dive. Further, we put a thumb to our forehead and make an open palm (like a fin) to signal that we’ve seen a shark. I’m sure other divers have created their own underwater sign language, too. What signs do you make?
1. Very helpful. I sometimes make the sign of "you're swimming on to of me, now knock it off" which is made by extending the middle digit straight upward while keeping the other fingers pointed down. Very effective.
Posted at 1:43PM on Jul 25th 2005 by Erik Olsen