Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)
Recreational divers do not usually have access to voice communication equipment and instead they use hand signals as the primary method of underwater communication especially whenever they can see each other. These signals are also used in general use as an alternative by professional divers.
The Recreational Scuba Training Council agencies (RSTC) have recognized a standardized set of hand signals intended for universal use. These signals are taught to diving students early in their entry level in the diving courses. These hand signals could be sorted in various categories indicating the followings:
Position: (e.g. ascending, descending, leveling-off at this depth)
Giving instruction: (e.g. turn around, slow down, stop ascending at this depth, hold on to each other)
Warning: (e.g. danger in a specific location/direction, we are ascending too fast)
Emergency: (E.g. I am out of breath, give me air now, I am cold, help me now)
Depending on the hand signal could be by palm alone (up/down), fist with hand, hand motion, thumb extended and pointed, hands indicate rising and falling chest and so on.
The inserted picture shows the “OK” hand-signal as shown to me by Mr. Mattiss (in yellow shirt). The signal is a circle made with thumb and forefinger, extending the remaining fingers.
