Scuba diving hand signals

The essential five

Agreed before every dive, by every diver, in every language.

• OK

  方法
  Thumb and index finger joined in a circle, the other three fingers extended. With gloves or at distance, arm over the head in a circle.

  平均値
  Both a question and an answer. Asked, it must be answered — silence is not an OK.

• Not OK / problem

  方法
  Flat hand, palm down, rocked side to side, then point at what is wrong.

  平均値
  Something is off. Say it early, at amber, not late at red.

• Up / end the dive

  方法
  Closed fist, thumb up.

  平均値
  An instruction, not an opinion. Any diver may end any dive, at any time, without giving a reason.

• Down / descend

  方法
  Closed fist, thumb down.

  平均値
  Begin or continue the descent, at the agreed rate.

• Stop / hold

  方法
  Flat open palm facing the buddy.

  平均値
  Stop adding tasks and stabilise here. The most under-used signal in diving.

Gas and pressure

Numbers vary by agency and by region. Agree yours on the surface.

• How much gas?

  方法
  Flat hand tapped twice against the open palm of the other hand, or two fingers to the palm.

  平均値
  Answer with numbers, honestly and immediately.

• Half / turn pressure

  方法
  Flat hand held horizontally at chest height, or the agreed number shown on fingers.

  平均値
  The turn point of the dive plan has arrived.

• Low on gas

  方法
  Closed fist to the centre of the chest.

  平均値
  Reserve reached. Begin the ascent plan now, together.

• Out of gas

  方法
  Flat hand drawn across the throat.

  平均値
  An emergency. Follow the out-of-gas procedure you trained with your agency and rehearsed with this buddy.

• Share gas

  方法
  Fingers of a flat hand brought to the mouth, then reaching toward the buddy's alternate.

  平均値
  Give me your alternate air source. Practised on land, then in shallow water, before it is needed.

Direction, depth and pace

Most task-loading happens here. Keep signals slow and single.

• Look / watch me

  方法
  Two fingers pointed toward your own eyes, then toward the object.

  平均値
  Direct your attention here.

• Go that way

  方法
  Flat hand held vertically, fingers pointing in the direction of travel.

  平均値
  The agreed heading.

• Slow down

  方法
  Flat hand, palm down, pressed gently downward.

  平均値
  Reduce pace and workload. Almost always the right answer.

• Level off / stay at this depth

  方法
  Flat hand, palm down, held steady and horizontal.

  平均値
  Hold this depth.

• Safety stop

  方法
  Three fingers raised over a flat horizontal hand: three minutes, five metres.

  平均値
  Hold the stop as planned. A good moment for slow, continuous breathing — nothing else.

• Stay together

  方法
  Two index fingers held side by side.

  平均値
  Close the distance and dive as a pair.

Problems and the body

Naming a small problem early is the whole skill.

• Ear problem

  方法
  Point to the ear.

  平均値
  Equalisation is not working. Stop the descent, ascend slightly, try again gently. Never force.

• Cold

  方法
  Arms crossed over the chest, hands rubbing the upper arms.

  平均値
  Thermal reserve is going. Cold is a common quiet cause of anxiety and short dives.

• Cramp

  方法
  Two fists brought together and pulled apart.

  平均値
  Stop, stretch, let the buddy help.

• Slow your breathing

  方法
  Flat hand moved slowly up and down in front of the chest.

  平均値
  Return to slow, continuous breathing. Never breath-holding, skip-breathing or hypoventilation.

• Dizzy / disoriented

  方法
  Index finger circled beside the head.

  平均値
  Hold on to something stable, hold depth, signal the buddy and end the dive if it persists.

学習カード

シグナルをひとつずつ。名前を読み、手の形を思い描いてから、カードを裏返して形と意味を確かめましょう。

簡単な確認

8つのシグナル。それぞれに固有の形があります。すべての答えに理由を添えました。点数よりも、意味を理解することが大切です。