Aquamaniac once bubbled...
I have noticed that there are several variations of hand signals for numerals around.
What do you do to signal remaining air and/or depths?
Dave
There is a lot of local variation in this. But here's what I use for buddies I know well enough form a dialect with:
During dive planning if we decide to turn around at a certain pressure (say 120 bar) then when I reach that point, I will point at the palm of my hand (gauges) and then signal "turn around" by making a circle with a finger.
At 100bar I'll indicate with slicing across the palm of my hand with the other hand. The local practice here is to make a T with your hands at 100 bar but that signal is ambiguous and I don't like it. I use it when I have to but with my regular buddies I prefer the slice.
Pointing at the palm of my hand and then at my buddy is the signal for him to tell me how much air he has.
At 50 bar I will hold up my hand and make a fist.
At other pressures from 50-100 I use 50 + fingers. so 70 is the sign for 50 + two fingers.
At pressures under 50 I signal palm (guages) + fingers. So at like 40 bar I'll point at my palm and then raise 4 fingers.
At other pressures from 100-150 I use 100 + fingers.
Over 150 and I just give OK.
If I'm carrying a lamp I often use the lens of the lamp in place of my other palm.
As for depths, it works pretty much the same way. I measure depths in metres so it's a bit easier. Say I'm at 25 metres and I want to go to 15. I'll signal "go up" by using the "go this way" sign in an upwards direction, then say "level out" and use fingers. 5 + 5 + 5.
And with that you can probably guess how I do the rest. One of the things that makes signing depths changes easier is to plan your dive so everyone knows what to expect when it comes.
R..