GoDeep

I'm always having problems to communicate when i dive with friends etc...
I know that most have a special sign language to communicate. Where can i learn this, (any links?) does it take long? is is it universal? Does it have a name?
I know that's a lot of questions but i'm sure that i won't be the only one interested in this.

starfish

I think that the name of the language used is ASL .
We then use signs such as thumb up for "I am ascending"; thumb down for
"I am descending"; hands across neck for "I am having difficulty
breathing" etc...

scuba jerm

ASL is a little more complex than that. If you are familor w/ ASL and your diving buddy is too, then you will have no problem with communication, as long as you can see each other. ASL or American Sign Language is the prefered language of the deaf community. The signs that are taught in Scuba lessons and consequently used by divers isn't ASL, it's what is called "home signs" or signs used by a specific group, generally the signs are made up by the group (in this case the diving community) and used for the most common phrases like acending, decending, out of air, etc. I've found that the signs used in Scuba are different than their true signs in ASL, so although it may seem like the same thing... ASL and scuba signing are quite different.

I've been fluent in ASL for a few years and really love to dive with those that are also fluent, it makes diving that much safer and more enjoyable.

So to answer the original question, if you and your buddy would like limitless communication abilities, take a ASL class or two and you will love it.

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Scuba Jerm

StevenB

that's always been something that realy has interested me , the language the deaf use to communicate , i find it amazing. So yes come to think of it , it makes sense for divers to use it too.
How long did it take you to learn it scubaJerm?

scuba jerm

To get really good, it's best to be involved in the deaf community.... like go to local deaf events in your area (you'd be surprised they are all over the place), or just have a good friend to talk with on ocasion. For Me, I spent about 2 years learning formally through college, but the best training came from 1 of my best friends, who happens to be deaf. So all together about 4 years of training, but you don't really need to be that fluent in ASL for diving. I'd say take the 1st 4 classes from a community college and you'd be in good shape. And it's fun too. I took all night classes so there was a good mixture of people. And it's nice to know that if I get deaf later in life it doesn't matter, ASL is a great language, I wish more people knew it, I find it much better than normal english. That may sound crazy but it's true, ASL is such a pure language, it's tough to mis-interpret what someone is trying to say in ASL. Deaf people don't beat around the bush, they are blunt.... I love that.

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Scuba Jerm

gaston

I think that's realy a good thing to have done, thumbs up on it. We should all find the time to get implicated in this sort of thing, for the others and for ourselves too. Whyshouldthe others always be those who need to adapt

gelly

I've been diving with my boyfriend for a few years now (about 5) and i think taht we sort of have a language of our own we made uplittle by little with the dives. It suits us perfectly

Seagul

I hardly have anything to say when i'm down there; i just know 5 or 6 basic signs that we all use. i'm not an underwater chatterbox. I go down there for the silence and the sensation of being alone

antigone

Just like me realy.
i know how to get myself understanded if needed but i don't communicate much once i'm underwater realy

tracker

Very good post. scubajerm/everyone else has the right idea. What you were taught in your OW class should be a base, but, every time I dive with someone new I go through the basics of sign and gear check. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry. It's like getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, you know where you're going, but, you still have to turn on the light so you don't bump into the AL80 you put on the hallway floor. Nothing wrong with making sure you understand the plan.