Scuba hand signals

Divers cannot talk underwater, so they agree on signals. Dive Kit has 93 of them, each with a drawing and what it means: hand signals for recreational and technical diving, light signals, touch signals for zero visibility, and signals for marine life.

Signals grouped by category, each with its drawing. The search bar stays at the top and searches every category at once.
Tap a signal for a larger drawing and a description of how to make it and what it means.

All 93 signals are below, in the five groups the app uses. Signals vary by agency, region and team: agree yours with your buddy before you descend.

Essential hand signals

The core signals every recreational diver uses. 28 signals.

OK

Form a circle with thumb and index finger, extend other fingers. Everything is fine. Also used as a question: 'Are you OK?' Respond with same signal if OK.
Problem / Not OK

Flat hand, palm down, rock side to side. Something is wrong. Follow with pointing to indicate the problem source.
End Dive / Ascend

Thumb pointing upward. Terminate the dive immediately and begin controlled ascent to surface.
Go Down / Descend

Thumb pointing downward. Begin controlled descent. Also used to ask buddy to descend.
Level Off / Hold Depth

Flat hand, palm down, held horizontal. Maintain current depth, stop ascending or descending.
Stop

Open palm facing buddy, fingers up. Halt immediately and hold position.
Up

Index finger pointing upward. Indicates direction or something above: 'look up there' or 'something is above us'. Not to be confused with thumbs up which means end dive/ascend.
Pressure Check / How Much Air?

Two fingers tapping the open palm of your other hand. Check your pressure gauge and report remaining air, or asking buddy's remaining air.
Safety Stop

Three fingers extended (showing 3), hand held horizontal. Perform 3-minute safety stop at 5 meters/15 feet.
Turn Around / Turn the Dive

Rotate index finger in circular motion. Reverse direction and start heading back.
Look / Watch

Two fingers pointing at own eyes, then pointing in direction. Look at me, or look at what I'm pointing to.
Come Here

Beckoning motion with hand or fingers. Move closer to me.
You Lead / Go First

Both hands with index fingers extended. Point one finger at the person who should lead, then move that pointing finger in front of the other finger. The person indicated is now in the lead position, with the other following behind.
Get With Your Buddy

Both index fingers extended, then bring them together until touching. Stay close to your buddy, maintain buddy contact, don't separate.
Hold Hands / Link Up

Reach out hand to buddy. Join hands for navigation in low visibility or strong current.
Help / Distress (Surface)

Wave one arm overhead at the surface. Emergency assistance needed. Universal distress signal.
Danger / Hazard

Make a fist and punch in the direction of the hazard with a quick jabbing motion. Danger in indicated direction, stay alert.
Share Air / Out of Air

Two signals. OUT OF AIR: slice your flat hand across your throat. SHARE AIR: tap your hand on your own regulator then wave forward toward your buddy. Request to share buddy's air supply.
Ears Not Clearing

Point to ear with finger. Unable to equalize ear pressure. May need to ascend slightly.
Cramp

Make a squeezing motion with your hand like squeezing a stress ball, then point to the affected muscle. Muscle cramp in indicated location.
Cold

Cross arms over chest, hugging motion, shivering. Feeling cold, may need to end dive.
Slow Down / Calm Down

Both hands palms down, slow downward pressing motion. Reduce speed, breathe slowly, relax.
Narcosis

Finger spiraling at temple (crazy sign). Experiencing nitrogen narcosis symptoms. Signal to buddy and begin ascending to shallower depth.
Broken Equipment

Both hands in front of body, make a snapping motion like breaking a stick in half. Equipment is broken or malfunctioning.
Need Weight

Fist pushing down against thigh. Having difficulty descending, need more weight.
Deploy SMB

One hand releasing upward motion, like releasing an SMB to the surface. I'm deploying my surface marker buoy, or requesting buddy to deploy theirs.
Boat

Hands together forming boat hull shape, rocking motion. Reference to the dive boat or boat location.
Let's Talk

Fingers and thumb together, open and close repeatedly like a talking mouth. I need to talk to you. Usually means we should surface for verbal communication.

Technical diving signals

Gas switches, deco, line work and numbers. 28 signals.

Hold Position

Closed fist held steady in front of body. Hold your current position and wait. Don't move until further signal. Different from 'stop' which is an open palm.
Ascend

Flat hand, palm facing down, move it upward along a curved path while maintaining the same flat posture. Begin ascending at proper rate.
Level Off

Flat hand, palm down, horizontal motion. Stop vertical movement, maintain current depth.
Time

Tap your wrist where a watch would be, or point to your dive computer. Asking about time: runtime, bottom time remaining, or TTS (time to surface). Respond with number signals.
Pressure Check

Make a fist and do a quick pump-pump squeezing motion, like squeezing a stress ball. TDI one-hand pressure signal. Check and report cylinder pressure using number signals.
Deco

Hold up your pinky finger. Used to communicate or ask about decompression obligations. Commonly used to ask your teammate's TTS (time to surface). Follow with number signals to communicate deco time.
Gas Switch

Index and middle fingers extended, do a rotation/swivel motion in front of your regulator. Indicates switching to a different gas. Confirm the gas being switched to with your buddy.
Bubbles / Leak

Thumb and index/middle fingers doing an open-close pinching motion, like bubbles rising. Gas leak detected, bubbles escaping from equipment.
S-Drill

Draw an 'S' in the air with your index finger. TDI S-Drill: check that you can share long hose freely, check for bubbles/leaks, and check for entanglements on your buddy. Performed at the start of a dive before completing the descent.
Light

Fingertips clenched together, then open, then close, then open repeatedly. Mimics a light flashing. Turn on light, adjust light, or light-related communication.
Reel

Thumb pressed against flat fingers, make a circular winding motion. Deploy reel, reel in line, or referring to the reel.
Line

Cross your index and middle fingers together. Indicates reference to a guideline, caveline, or distance line.
Tie Off

Make the line sign (crossed index and middle fingers), then draw a circle in the air. Secure the line, create a tie-off point.
Entangled

Make the line symbol (cross index and middle fingers), then draw an infinity shape in the air. Caught in line, net, or kelp. Need assistance.
Lock / Secure

Two index fingers interlocking together like a chain link. Lock position, secure equipment in place.
Wrap

Wrap one hand around your fist with your other hand. Wrap up line or wrap procedure.
Clean Up

Both hands making gathering/collecting motion toward body. Stow loose equipment, secure dangling hoses or lines, tidy up your gear configuration before moving.
Question / What?

Index finger curled into a question mark shape. Used to ask a question or indicate confusion. What is it? What do you mean?
Zero (0)

Form an O-shape with thumb and index finger, or show a closed fist. Number zero. Used with other number signals to communicate pressure or time values.
One (1)

One finger (index) extended, palm facing outward. Number one. Used for communicating pressure (bars/psi), time, depth, or other values.
Two (2)

Two fingers (index and middle) extended, palm facing outward. Number two.
Three (3)

Three fingers (index, middle, ring) extended, palm facing outward. Number three.
Four (4)

Four fingers extended (thumb tucked in), palm facing outward. Number four.
Five (5)

All five fingers extended, open palm facing outward. Number five. Also represents 50 bar / 500 psi when used for pressure.
Six (6)

Hand sideways with back of hand facing outward, one finger extended. TDI style: numbers 6-9 use a sideways hand position to distinguish from 1-4. Number six.
Seven (7)

Hand sideways with back of hand facing outward, two fingers extended. TDI style: numbers 6-9 use a sideways hand position to distinguish from 1-4. Number seven.
Eight (8)

Hand sideways with back of hand facing outward, three fingers extended. TDI style: numbers 6-9 use a sideways hand position to distinguish from 1-4. Number eight.
Nine (9)

Hand sideways with back of hand facing outward, four fingers extended. TDI style: numbers 6-9 use a sideways hand position to distinguish from 1-4. Number nine.

Light signals

Torch signals for night and cave diving. 3 signals.

OK (Light)

Slow large circle motion with light beam. Everything is fine. Used as both signal and response.
Attention

Wave light beam horizontally across buddy's field of vision. Get buddy's attention for communication.
Emergency

Rapid continuous shaking of light, erratic motion. Emergency situation, immediate assistance required.

Touch contact signals

Signals by touch for zero visibility. 7 signals.

OK

Two deliberate squeezes on buddy's arm or hand. Everything is OK. Reply with same signal.
Stop

Single firm grip or squeeze. Stop immediately, hold position.
Hold / Wait

Maintain firm grip without movement. Stay here, maintain position, wait.
Ascend / Go Up

Push upward on buddy's arm. Move up, begin ascent.
Descend / Go Down

Push downward on buddy's arm. Move down, continue descent.
Left / Right

Tug arm in lateral direction. Move left or right as indicated.
Forward / Backward

Pull or push along the arm horizontally. Move forward or backward in indicated direction.

Marine life signals

Hand shapes for pointing out fish and other animals. 27 signals.

Shark

Flat hand on top of head mimicking dorsal fin. Shark sighting.
Hammerhead Shark

Fists on sides of head, extended outward like hammer shape. Hammerhead shark sighting.
Manta Ray

Arms extended wide, slow graceful wave motion like wings. Manta ray sighting.
Dolphin

Hand in undulating wave motion, rising and diving like dolphin swimming. Dolphin sighting.
Turtle

One fist covered by other flat hand, thumbs rotating like swimming flippers. Sea turtle sighting.
Seal / Sea Lion

Hands together at wrists, flapping like flippers. Seal or sea lion sighting.
Stingray

Flat hands together, undulating motion with whipping tail gesture. Stingray sighting.
Blue-Spotted Ray

Flat hand undulating like a ray swimming, then tap fingertips on the back of your hand to indicate spots. Blue-spotted ribbontail ray sighting.
Napoleon Wrasse

Bump on forehead with fist. Humphead or Napoleon wrasse sighting.
Barracuda

Chop your forearm with your other hand using a knife-like motion. Represents the barracuda's elongated body and sharp profile. Barracuda sighting.
Tuna

Fast torpedo-shaped hand motion. Large fast-swimming pelagic fish sighting.
Triggerfish

Finger like trigger being pulled. Triggerfish sighting. May be territorial.
Angelfish

Halo motion above head with finger. Angelfish sighting.
Pufferfish

Puffed cheeks, hands around face expanding. Pufferfish or boxfish sighting.
Trumpetfish

Hands at mouth like trumpet, extended forward. Trumpetfish or cornetfish sighting.
Moray Eel

Hand opens and closes like eel mouth, arm waving like eel body. Moray eel sighting.
Lionfish

Fingers spread out like spines radiating from face. Lionfish sighting. Venomous: keep distance.
Scorpionfish

Fingers spread, hand low like camouflaged fish on bottom. Scorpionfish sighting. Venomous: do not touch.
Stonefish

Fist like stone on bottom. Stonefish sighting. Extremely venomous: maintain distance.
Crocodilefish

Hold flat hand low (near bottom), then make long jaw snapping motion with fingers against palm. Crocodilefish, flathead, or bottom-dwelling predator sighting.
Octopus

Fingers wiggling outward like tentacles from palm. Octopus sighting.
Seahorse

Curved fist with extended thumb like seahorse snout. Seahorse sighting.
Nudibranch

Two fingers on head wiggling like rhinophores (nudibranch antennae), then pinch fingers to show small size. Nudibranch or sea slug sighting, usually tiny and colorful.
Jellyfish

Hand pulsing open and closed, fingers trailing downward. Jellyfish in area. Avoid contact.
Crab

Pinching motion with index finger and thumb. Crab sighting.
Shrimp

Two fingers at forehead like antennae, small size indicated. Shrimp sighting.
Small Creature

Pinch thumb and index finger close together indicating tiny size, then point to location. Small/macro creature spotted. Look closely at the indicated area.

Dive signals by Dive Kit, https://divekit.app. Drawings licensed CC BY 4.0, downloadable at open.divekit.app.

In the app

Open Dive Signals from the Plan tab. The search bar stays at the top and searches names and descriptions across every group at once. Tap a signal to see it larger with its full description. Everything works offline.

Agree signals before the dive

This is a reference for learning and refreshing signals, not a rulebook. Some signals have local or boat-specific meanings. Go through them in the pre-dive briefing, and confirm out of gas, low on gas, ascend, problem and OK face to face before you descend.

Questions

Are hand signals the same in every agency?

The essential ones (OK, problem, up, down, low on gas, out of gas) are close to universal, but details vary by agency, region and team. Agree your signals with your buddy in the pre-dive briefing, and confirm the critical ones face to face before you descend.

Can I print these signals for a briefing card or a class?

Yes. The drawings are published under the Creative Commons Attribution licence (CC BY 4.0). Use them in briefing cards, slides or your own app, including commercially, and credit "Dive signals by Dive Kit, https://divekit.app". Download them at open.divekit.app.

Does the app need a connection to show the signals?

No. The signals ship inside the app and work offline, on the boat or at a dive site without a signal.

Is it free?

Yes. Dive signals are part of the free app. The Deco Planner is the only paid feature.

Every screen and setting is described in the user guide: Dive Signals.

Last updated 1 November 2026

Scuba hand signals

Essential hand signals

OK

Problem / Not OK

End Dive / Ascend

Go Down / Descend

Level Off / Hold Depth

Stop

Up

Pressure Check / How Much Air?

Safety Stop

Turn Around / Turn the Dive

Look / Watch

Come Here

You Lead / Go First

Get With Your Buddy

Hold Hands / Link Up

Help / Distress (Surface)

Danger / Hazard

Share Air / Out of Air

Ears Not Clearing

Cramp

Cold

Slow Down / Calm Down

Narcosis

Broken Equipment

Need Weight

Deploy SMB

Boat

Let's Talk

Technical diving signals

Hold Position

Ascend

Level Off

Time

Pressure Check

Deco

Gas Switch

Bubbles / Leak

S-Drill

Light

Reel

Line

Tie Off

Entangled

Lock / Secure

Wrap

Clean Up

Question / What?

Zero (0)

One (1)

Two (2)

Three (3)

Four (4)

Five (5)

Six (6)

Seven (7)

Eight (8)

Nine (9)

Light signals

OK (Light)

Attention

Emergency

Touch contact signals

OK

Stop

Hold / Wait

Ascend / Go Up

Descend / Go Down

Left / Right

Forward / Backward

Marine life signals

Shark

Hammerhead Shark

Manta Ray

Dolphin

Turtle

Seal / Sea Lion

Stingray

Blue-Spotted Ray