CHAPTER 8 — Surface-Supplied Air Diving Operations
Change A 8-25
A special group of searching signals is used by the tender to direct a diver in
moving along the bottom. These signals are duplicates of standard line-pull
signals, but their use is indicated by an initial seven-pull signal to the diver that
instructs the diver to interpret succeeding signals as searching signals. When the
tender wants to revert to standard signals, another seven-pull signal is sent to the
diver which means searching signals are no longer in use. Only the tender uses
searching signals; all signals initiated by the diver are standard signals. To be
properly oriented for using searching signals, the diver must face the line (either
the lifeline or the descent line, if a circling line is being employed).
Table 8-3. Line-Pull Signals.
From Tender to Diver
Searching Signals (Without Circling Line)
1 Pull
“Are you all right?” When diver is descending,
one pull means “Stop.”
7 Pulls
“Go on (or off) searching signals.”
2 Pulls
“Going Down.” During ascent, two pulls mean
“You have come up too far; go back down until
we stop you.”
1 Pull
“Stop and search where you are.”
3 Pulls
“Stand by to come up.”
2 Pulls
“Move directly away from the tender if given
slack; move toward the tender if strain is taken
on the life line.”
4 Pulls
“Come up.”
3 Pulls
“Face your umbilical, take a strain, move right.”
2-1 Pulls
“I understand” or “Talk to me.”
4 Pulls
“Face your umbilical, take a strain, move left.”
3-2 Pulls
“Ventilate.”
4-3 Pulls
“Circulate.”
From Diver to Tender
Searching Signals (With Circling Line)
1 Pull
“I am all right.” When descending, one pull
means “Stop” or “I am on the bottom.”
7 Pulls
“Go on (or off) searching signals.”
2 Pulls
“Lower” or “Give me slack.”
1 Pull
“Stop and search where you are.”
3 Pulls
“Take up my slack.”
2 Pulls
“Move away from the weight.”
4 Pulls
“Haul me up.”
3 Pulls
“Face the weight and go right.”
2-1 Pulls
“I understand” or “Talk to me.”
4 Pulls
“Face the weight and go left.”
3-2 Pulls
“More air.”
4-3 Pulls
“Less air.”
Special Signals From the Diver
Emergency Signals From the Diver
1-2-3 Pulls
“Send me a square mark.”
2-2-2 Pulls
“I am fouled and need the assistance of another
diver.”
5 Pulls
“Send me a line.”
3-3-3 Pulls
“I am fouled but can clear myself.”
2-1-2 Pulls
“Send me a slate.”
4-4-4 Pulls
“Haul me up immediately.”
ALL EMERGENCY SIGNALS SHALL BE ANSWERED AS GIVEN EXCEPT 4-4-4
