Communication is very important for the diver because it is the way he receives and delivers information to his team. Nowadays, there are many contemporary devices which allow the diver to talk to his assistant crew or at least type the information he wishes to send. It is a pity that only a few teams in the world can afford it. So, the old methods are still in use.

All over the world divers use three main ways of exchanging information – by pulling a rope attached to a ship, by some signals or by gestures. All signals have different meanings in the different parts of the world. Here is an example:

Rope communication

Signals From the Surface to the Bottom

__	How do you feel?
….	Get out of the water.
____	Stop where you are.
__ .	Continue the dive.
. __	Go right.
.. __	Go left.
__ .. __	Come to the ship.
__ . __	Turn back.

Signals From the Bottom to the Surface

.	"I am okay" or "I am on the bottom"
__ .	Collect the signal rope.
__ __	Release the rope.
…	Pull me up.
....	Danger; alarm.

Hand Signals
 

Attention Stop Wait	I To me Me	You To you You	He To him There	Come Come closer Closer
Descending	Ascending	Stay at this depth Wait	Going this way	Faster Do not fall behind Continue
Slower Be Careful	Equalize the pressure	Equalize the pressure in the mask	Blow in the mask	Blow through the hoses
Emergency, ascending	Do not hold your breath Take a deep breath	Breathe through the snorkel	Disarm Change your apparatus with the spare one	Yes I permit OK Understood Mission accomplished How do you feel Everything is all right
No Do not I do not permit I cannot	I did not understand Repeat Couple Where is your partner	Do not touch Danger	Withdraw	Give Take Catch
Drive the air out of your ears	Follow me in pairs	Change Exchange your places	Do you have problems with equalization	I cannot equalize with this ear
Release I have dropped I have lost	Search I will look for	I have found it I have found something	Do Help	Cold
Tired	Feel sick	Intoxicated	Help Come immediately	I have less than 30 atm
The apparatus gives little air	Technical error More or less	The apparatus gives water	I have no air, give me some	What time is it Time is up
What is the depth We have reached the depth	What is going on What is this	Where Who	Check the residual pressure Do you have air	How much What At what distance
Very big Away	A little Close	Tie Untie Tear	Cut Divide	Tighten Loosen
Turn	Raise Carry	Clean Dig out Uncover	Pull	End Over Enough