Light signals

Woz · January 17th, 2006, 03:52 PM

Always wanting to cherry pick the best ideas, I like the idea of light signals for basic u/w comms.

So- as I understand it an "ok" is a circle shape shone onto where your buddy is looking. With the "ok" signal back the same.

Emergency appears to be a frantic wiggle, left-right.

Getting someone's attention is a flash across the mask, but without blinding them.

So- what else? It seems such a logical thing to do so you don't have to keep turning round to look at your buddy and can concentrate on looking like a Dive God. And please correct me if I have the above wrong.

**neilh** · January 17th, 2006, 03:57 PM

Any other signals involve moving the light to form the shape of letters in front of your team. They they write the letter they think you formed in their wetnotes. You finish off with an OK signal and your two team members then compare the ntoes they have written.

*Rich Walker* · January 17th, 2006, 04:03 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Woz)

Getting someone's attention is a flash across the mask, but without blinding them.

A slow up-down motion with the light is a better attention signal. Obviously, if this fails, then a flash across the mask might help. Followed by the frantic flashing to teach them to pay more attention

Quote: (Originally Posted by Woz)

So- what else? It seems such a logical thing to do so you don't have to keep turning round to look at your buddy and can concentrate on looking like a Dive God. And please correct me if I have the above wrong.

Well the most important one is the light beam staying stationary in the buddys field of vision, most often on their elbow if in line, or slightly accross their path if swimming abreast. This is the "I'm OK by default" signal. If you don't see the light for an acceoptable period of time, then check. If the beam is moving erattically, then check them. If it's right where it should be, then you can keep on moving without the need for the continual exchange of OK signals.

Rich

Woz · January 17th, 2006, 04:10 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by neilh)

Any other signals involve moving the light to form the shape of letters in front of your team. They they write the letter they think you formed in their wetnotes. You finish off with an OK signal and your two team members then compare the ntoes they have written.

If I did that with my buddies I would end up with a load of nobs drawn on my wetnotes.

I like the idea of the light spot in the field of vision. What about if you are both on a dive and are waving them around like light sabres looking for wildlife?

*JohnKendall* · January 17th, 2006, 04:25 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Woz)

If I did that with my buddies I would end up with a load of nobs drawn on my wetnotes.

I like the idea of the light spot in the field of vision. What about if you are both on a dive and are waving them around like light sabres looking for wildlife?

Do it slowly, that way it is just "normal use of the light to see" as opposed to "Frantic flashing 'cos something's wrong"

Woz · January 17th, 2006, 04:29 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by JohnKendall)

Do it slowly, that way it is just "normal use of the light to see" as opposed to "Frantic flashing 'cos something's wrong"

Aha. Marvellous. I shall try it the next time out.

*Rich Walker* · January 17th, 2006, 04:30 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Woz)

If I did that with my buddies I would end up with a load of nobs drawn on my wetnotes.

Which is different from normal how?

Quote: (Originally Posted by Woz)

I like the idea of the light spot in the field of vision. What about if you are both on a dive and are waving them around like light sabres looking for wildlife?

You won't see much wildlife

But to be serious, you take a look around, and then put the light back in the field of vision. Leave it for a few seconds, and then have another look. It sounds a bit odd, but it works.

Rich

Woz · January 17th, 2006, 05:00 PM

Consider the light signals cherry picked and added to my arsenal of skills, along with deco dancing, singing Tight Fit songs and blowing bubble rings.

clarktenk · January 17th, 2006, 10:34 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Rich Walker)

A slow up-down motion with the light is a better attention signal. Obviously, if this fails, then a flash across the mask might help. Followed by the frantic flashing to teach them to pay more attention

Well the most important one is the light beam staying stationary in the buddys field of vision, most often on their elbow if in line, or slightly accross their path if swimming abreast. This is the "I'm OK by default" signal. If you don't see the light for an acceoptable period of time, then check. If the beam is moving erattically, then check them. If it's right where it should be, then you can keep on moving without the need for the continual exchange of OK signals.

Rich

This is exactly what we do. This keeps your team leader from having to look back constantly or wonder where everyone is. You look around and every 1-2 min you run your light out in front of his field of vision so he can see your light and know you are still there. It wasn't a very hard system to get used to because if you don't let him know often enough we just turn around and blind the offender for not paying attention to the accepted protocol. lol. :D

Seriously though try it, it works great and makes the dive so much more enjoyable not having to constantly turn your head to make sure your team is still there.

January 17th, 2006, 03:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Woz(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 246	Light signals Always wanting to cherry pick the best ideas, I like the idea of light signals for basic u/w comms. So- as I understand it an "ok" is a circle shape shone onto where your buddy is looking. With the "ok" signal back the same. Emergency appears to be a frantic wiggle, left-right. Getting someone's attention is a flash across the mask, but without blinding them. So- what else? It seems such a logical thing to do so you don't have to keep turning round to look at your buddy and can concentrate on looking like a Dive God. And please correct me if I have the above wrong. __________________ www.kitfondle.co.uk Lots of shiny diving tatt for you to spend money on

January 17th, 2006, 04:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Woz(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 246	Quote: (Originally Posted by neilh) Any other signals involve moving the light to form the shape of letters in front of your team. They they write the letter they think you formed in their wetnotes. You finish off with an OK signal and your two team members then compare the ntoes they have written. If I did that with my buddies I would end up with a load of nobs drawn on my wetnotes. I like the idea of the light spot in the field of vision. What about if you are both on a dive and are waving them around like light sabres looking for wildlife? __________________ www.kitfondle.co.uk Lots of shiny diving tatt for you to spend money on

January 17th, 2006, 04:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Woz(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 246	Quote: (Originally Posted by JohnKendall) Do it slowly, that way it is just "normal use of the light to see" as opposed to "Frantic flashing 'cos something's wrong" Aha. Marvellous. I shall try it the next time out. __________________ www.kitfondle.co.uk Lots of shiny diving tatt for you to spend money on

January 17th, 2006, 05:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
Woz(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 246	Consider the light signals cherry picked and added to my arsenal of skills, along with deco dancing, singing Tight Fit songs and blowing bubble rings. __________________ www.kitfondle.co.uk Lots of shiny diving tatt for you to spend money on

January 17th, 2006, 03:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
neilh(Offline) Haemoglobin on the bus... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 1,900	Any other signals involve moving the light to form the shape of letters in front of your team. They they write the letter they think you formed in their wetnotes. You finish off with an OK signal and your two team members then compare the ntoes they have written.

January 17th, 2006, 04:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rich Walker(Offline) GUE Instructor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sheffield Posts: 300	Quote: (Originally Posted by Woz) Getting someone's attention is a flash across the mask, but without blinding them. A slow up-down motion with the light is a better attention signal. Obviously, if this fails, then a flash across the mask might help. Followed by the frantic flashing to teach them to pay more attention Quote: (Originally Posted by Woz) So- what else? It seems such a logical thing to do so you don't have to keep turning round to look at your buddy and can concentrate on looking like a Dive God. And please correct me if I have the above wrong. Well the most important one is the light beam staying stationary in the buddys field of vision, most often on their elbow if in line, or slightly accross their path if swimming abreast. This is the "I'm OK by default" signal. If you don't see the light for an acceoptable period of time, then check. If the beam is moving erattically, then check them. If it's right where it should be, then you can keep on moving without the need for the continual exchange of OK signals. Rich

January 17th, 2006, 04:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
JohnKendall(Offline) GUE Instructor/DIRX Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,097	Quote: (Originally Posted by Woz) If I did that with my buddies I would end up with a load of nobs drawn on my wetnotes. I like the idea of the light spot in the field of vision. What about if you are both on a dive and are waving them around like light sabres looking for wildlife? Do it slowly, that way it is just "normal use of the light to see" as opposed to "Frantic flashing 'cos something's wrong"

January 17th, 2006, 04:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rich Walker(Offline) GUE Instructor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sheffield Posts: 300	Quote: (Originally Posted by Woz) If I did that with my buddies I would end up with a load of nobs drawn on my wetnotes. Which is different from normal how? Quote: (Originally Posted by Woz) I like the idea of the light spot in the field of vision. What about if you are both on a dive and are waving them around like light sabres looking for wildlife? You won't see much wildlife But to be serious, you take a look around, and then put the light back in the field of vision. Leave it for a few seconds, and then have another look. It sounds a bit odd, but it works. Rich

January 17th, 2006, 10:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
clarktenk(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: London, Ontario Canada Posts: 36	Quote: (Originally Posted by Rich Walker) A slow up-down motion with the light is a better attention signal. Obviously, if this fails, then a flash across the mask might help. Followed by the frantic flashing to teach them to pay more attention Well the most important one is the light beam staying stationary in the buddys field of vision, most often on their elbow if in line, or slightly accross their path if swimming abreast. This is the "I'm OK by default" signal. If you don't see the light for an acceoptable period of time, then check. If the beam is moving erattically, then check them. If it's right where it should be, then you can keep on moving without the need for the continual exchange of OK signals. Rich This is exactly what we do. This keeps your team leader from having to look back constantly or wonder where everyone is. You look around and every 1-2 min you run your light out in front of his field of vision so he can see your light and know you are still there. It wasn't a very hard system to get used to because if you don't let him know often enough we just turn around and blind the offender for not paying attention to the accepted protocol. lol. :D Seriously though try it, it works great and makes the dive so much more enjoyable not having to constantly turn your head to make sure your team is still there.