Scuba Diving Hand Signals for Wreck Diving
Scuba divers have developed a number of hand signals to communicate while underwater. There are even signals specifically geared toward wreck diving. You can point out the different sections and features of the wreck with these 18 hand signals. Check out the video above, or GIFs below, to see a demonstration of these handy signals.
Learn the Hand Signals for Underwater Emergencies | Learn the Hand Signals for Your Favorite Marine Animals
Wreck

Chris BaloghWreck
To make the signal for wreck, slightly bend your hands and put them against one another to create the shape of an upside-down boat.
Mast

Chris BaloghMast
Hold your hand flat with your thumb up to resemble a ship. Point to your thumb with the other hand to make the signal for a ship's mast.
Wheel/Wheelhouse

Chris BaloghWheel/Wheelhouse
The wheelhouse can make a great photo-op on some wrecks. Pretend you are the captain and steer the ship's wheel.
Life Boat

Chris BaloghLife boat
Sometimes a ship's life boats go down with the rest of it. You can point them out to your buddy by pretending to row your own lifeboat.
Engine

Chris BaloghEngine
Slide your fingers over each other loosely with your thumbs up and then shake your hands up and down to make the signal for engine.
Propeller

Chris BaloghPropeller
No wreck dive would be proper without a stop at the prop. Tell your buddy you'd like to visit the ship's propeller by repeatedly drawing a circle in front of you with your index finger.
Stern

Chris BaloghStern
Hold your hand vertically to resemble a shipwreck, then point to the back of it — your wrist — to make the signal for the stern.
Deck

Chris BaloghDeck
All hands on deck! Hold your hand flat with your thumb up to resemble a ship and run your free index finger along the top of your hand.
Rudder

Chris BaloghRudder
Line up two vertical hands behind each other and rotate the back hand from left to right to mimic a rudder.
Bell

Chris BaloghBell
Ring the bell. One hand imitates the shape of the bell and the other shakes the clapper.
Hold

Chris BaloghHold
Hold your hand flat with your thumb up to resemble a ship, then spread your middle and ring finger while keeping the rest together to show the ship's hold.
Anchor

Chris BaloghAnchor
Hook your index finger with the index and middle finger of the other hand.
Chain

Chris BalghChain
This signal is really off the chain! Create two links of a chain by interlocking your thumbs and index finger
Galley

Chris BaloghGalley
Which way to the grub? Pretend you're stirring a big cooking pan.
Hull

Chris BaloghHull
Hold your hand flat with your thumb up to resemble a ship, point out the middle of your hand with the index finger of your other hand.
Bow

Chris BaloghBow
Hold your hand flat with your thumb up to resemble a ship, and point to the tips of your fingers.
Keel

Chris BaloghKeel
Hold your hand flat with your thumb up to resemble a ship, then run your other index finger along the bottom of your hand.
Artifact

Chris BaloghArtifact
Put your index fingertips against one another and make a bridge with one middle finger.