10 Hand Signals Every Beginning Scuba Diver Should Know

How do scuba divers communicate with each other? It’s by using their hands!

It is critical to be able to communicate with your dive buddy while diving because you cannot simply pop up to the surface for a quick chat. We'll go over the 10 most important hand signals you need to know as a beginner scuba diver to making sure everyone is okay.

1. Up

How to do it: Make a fist with your hand and point your thumb upwards.

When to use it: This signal would be used if you wanted to go to the surface. It is typically used at the end of a dive, after the safety stop, so that the entire dive group knows to surface together.

2. Down

How to do it: Make a fist with your hand and point your thumb downwards.

When to use it: When everyone is ready to descend together, use this to signal that it is time.

3. Low on air

How to do it: By creating a fist with one hand and bringing it towards your chest.

When to use it: If you are using bar measurements you would do this when your tank gets to 50bar remaining, if using psi you would do it when your tank shows 500psi. This is the latest point that you should be starting to end the dive, as we never come out of the water with a completely empty tank. If you get low on air, always let your buddy or dive guide know.

4. Out on air

How to do it: Take your hand and move it side to side across your neck, fingers facing you.

When to use it: Hopefully, you will never need to use this hand signal, but it is important to be aware of it just in case. If you ever find yourself at depth with an empty tank, use this hand signal to alert your buddy that you need to share their air, then breathe from their alternate regulator and slowly surface together.

5. How much air do you have

Tap the palm of your other hand a couple of times with your index and middle fingers together.

When to use it: Your dive instructor or dive guide will most likely use this to keep track of everyone's air consumption. This will assist them in determining when to shallow up or turn the dive around. If you're diving with a buddy, it's a good idea to ask each other instead of just focusing on your own air consumption, so you can shallow down or consider ending the dive if one of you starts running low on air. The answer will depend on whether your gauge measures air pressure in bar or psi. Different parts of the world use different measurements, so check which you'll be using and ask your instructor how to answer this question before diving.

6. OK (Question and Answer)

How to do it: With one hand, make a "O" with your index finger by touching the tips with your thumb. The other three fingers are pointing up.

When to use it: This hand signal is used to ask your buddy or other divers in your group, "Are you okay?" to ensure that they are feeling comfortable and happy. It can also be used as an answer by repeating it back to the diver who asked. Aka "yes, I am okay" to reassure your dive buddies that you are fine and are not experiencing any problems.

7. Problem

How to do it: Rock your hand in a seesaw motion with all of your fingers spread out and your hand horizontal. Then point to the issue at hand.

When to use it: This hand signal can be used in any situation where you need to communicate with your friends about a problem. For example, if your mask keeps coming loose, you can use the hand signal to point to it, and your buddy can try to tighten it or support you while you figure it out. Another example is that if you are unable to equalize your ears, you can notify others by performing the hand signal and pointing to your ear so they can wait at your level before proceeding.

8. Come up to my level

The same as the "up" signal, but with your other hand horizontally facing palm down over your thumb.

When to use it: This is used to signal another diver to come up to the same level as you. When diving in a group, it is critical to maintain the same level to ensure similar no decompression times and that no one gets lost.

9. Come down to my level

The same as the "down" signal, but with your other hand horizontally facing palm upwards under your thumb.

When to use it: Use this to indicate to another diver that they should descend to the same level as you. When diving in a group, it is critical to maintain the same level to ensure similar no decompression times and that no one gets lost.

10.Get closer to your buddy

How to do it: Bring the index fingers of both hands together in the middle.

When to use it: It is critical to stay close to your buddy in order to avoid becoming separated and to ensure that help is nearby in the event of an emergency. This could be used to signal to your own buddy to get closer, or it could be used by the dive guide to encourage buddies to stay a little closer together.