What are the various dive signs and what do they mean?
It's pretty tricky to talk underwater, and so divers use a series of hand signals to communicate with one another. Try to practise these with a friend.
What are the various dive signs and what do they mean?
Ascend
The thumbs up sign means 'Ascend' or 'Go up' rather than good.
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Descend
This dive sign means 'Descend' or 'Go down'.
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Are you ok?
This dive sign is both a question 'Are you ok?' and an answer 'I am ok'.
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Which direction?
This is the dive sign to ask 'Which direction?'. You might reply to this by pointing in the direction you want to go in.
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Turn around
This is the dive sign for 'Turn around'. Use dive signs to navigate around a virtual dive in the classroom.
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Time to head back
This is the dive sign for 'Time to Head Back'. It's the same as the 'Time Out' signal that people use in other contexts. It's time to head back when your air is low or when you have finished your dive objective.
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Stop
This is the dive sign for 'Stop'.
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Something is wrong
This dive sign means that 'Something is wrong'. Divers normally use this sign and then point to the thing that is wrong, such as a painful ear. If you can't equalise the pressure in your ears and nose when descending, the pressure can build up and become quite painful.
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Take it easy
This is the dive sign for 'Take it easy', 'Slow down' or 'Relax'. When people first start diving they may begin to panic a little and this allows the dive master to calm them down. Use dive signs to navigate around a virtual dive in the classroom.
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Lionfish
This is the dive sign for a lionfish. Divers use a variety of different signs for the different animals on the reef. These animal dive signs are not as official as the safety and navigation dive signs.
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Turtle
This is the dive sign for a turtle. You need to move your thumbs in a circular motion to mimic a turtle swimming through the ocean.