Anyone here use Sea Signs, a basic sign language vocabulary based upon ASL, but modified for diving?

My husband and I have been learning to use them so we can communicate underwater more effectively; it's a lot of fun, too.

Laura, I haven't heard of this. Is there a website that has the "signs?"

They just came out at DEMA this year that is the first time that we have seen them. We are in contact with the lady we spoke to at DEMA this year talking about the system.

Yes, there is a website: http://www.seasigns.com .

Very cool guys! I am a certified sign language interpreter. Last year on vacation in Cozumel, ASL was a life saver underwater. Had a full conversation with a fellow interpreter about a moody barracuda. The ability to use language in the quiet world of water was terrific.

I have been attempting to teach hubby the basics. His ASL acquisition skills are a work in progress. He can communicate using basic diving related language, such as FISH, SHARK, JELLYFISH, body states (i.e COLD, HUNGRY, FINISH). He does a fantastic job using descriptors (ASL Classifiers) to describe what he sees, however his knowledge of ASL obscenities and cuss words far surpasses his everyday conversational abilities. Grin. He is quite the entertainment when we meet up with my Deaf family and friends.

Laura, have you attempted any dives using sea signing?

We will be in Bonaire in just under two weeks. Countdown has begun.

Just in the pool so far, but we're having a great time practicing on land.



Here's a sample of some things I can now say:


"Your tank strap is loose. Do you want me to fix it?"

"Wow! There's a small blue shrimp in that anemone! Beautiful!"

"Don't touch the coral. It will break."

"Remember the octopus on the rock next to the big red sponge?"

"Look -- a nudibranch is resting under that gorgonian."

"That hole is dangerous. An eel bit my hand!"




...And so on. There's about 110 vocabulary words altogether. If you get it, I recommend the DVD. It's like watching Sesame Street all over again!

my husband does cave diving & they have a their own sign "language" too that you need to learn to advance. Some of it can be applied to open water diving.

I'm not sure I want my wife to be able to communicate that clearly underwater. While in Bonaire once, we dove with a couple that was deaf. He apparently got in her way while she was trying to take a photograph and she really chewed him out underwater! I have a tendency to get the Mrs. Upset so I kind of enjoy not getting yelled at while diving.

Hehe, Lee!

Apparently, the sign commonly used by divers for "shark" is interpreted as "bas***d" to a good portion of the deaf community; so the folks at SeaSigns use the ASL sign for "shark" instead.

My wife works with special needs children and is very familiar with ASL.

That could explain why I thought she was seeing sharks at Karpata. She must have been upset with me.

How much is the class from Seasigns?

My husband and I aren't taking a class, per se, but are learning from the DVD (available on the product section of their website for USD$22.95.)

It's really too bad that they don't show one of the video clips online; they're much better than I thought they'd be. Very clear, repetitive, and done at just about the right speed for someone who has never signed before.

All I can say is WOW! what ever it is I want to learn it. LOL

PADI offers a class in Sea Signs.

Do any of the dive shops on Bonaire have a class? With a month of free time we could have a lot of fun. A couple of rum punches or three, lots of waggling fingers and confusion between shark and b.....d
.......sounds like a party to me!

I've seen the seasigns program and I thought it was great. I'm glad that people are actively learning how to communicate using signs - regardless if it is mainly for underwater communication.

I am deaf, and I use sign language to communicate...

It's hilarious seeing some posts here regarding the shark signs