Chafing is normally not a common issue when it comes to diving but throw in a long boat ride or running around on the beach after you have swam to shore and have to do a recon and you have not or don’t plan to change out of your wetsuits. Add in some sand from swimming thru the surf and this is when chafing can occur. Generally, you will not notice it until you are a couple hours in. Chafing causes an uncomfortable, sensitive patch of skin or a rash in areas where sand has gotten into your wetsuit or where seams/ edges are in continuous contact with the skin. 

To help prevent this you should try and get thru the surf as fast as posable. I know that is easier said than done, but the longer you are in the surf the better change you have of sand getting where you don’t want it. A dive skin or rash guard will help but it is not the end all answer you can do all this and still get chaffing. I have heard of people wearing pantyhose (you can also use them on your gun to help keep sand out) for this. Make sure your wetsuit, has good seams on the inside of the suit and the edges of the neck, arms, and legs. Many wetsuit manufacturers employ methods such as taping or blind-stitching that prevent the rough edges from coming into contact with your skin. I know most anyone that has had to run after being wet and sandy know how to stop chaffing. You can also use some of the anti-chaffing stuff that is out there for runners and surfers. Both can used together to help fight this.

It is important to take off your wetsuit as soon as possible after you get out of the water. Also don not pee in your suit. Be sure to always rinse your wetsuit in freshwater right after the dive as this will help get the salt out of it and the help avoid bacteria buildup that can lead to skin irritations down the road. If you are diving or swimming in water that is really bad (like say a cove in the Hampton roads area) you will want to soak your wetsuit in a betadine solution to help kill whatever might grow in there.  

If you are already suffering from chafing there are a number of topical solutions that can help reduce the discomfort, like anti-Monkey butt( for the long zodiac rides), Butt-paste, and body glide to name a few. Be careful not to leave some of the paste on it you have to go back thru the surf as it will just help sand stick to it or even products designed for infant diaper rash.

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Good communication is crucial when diving with someone you never have dove before with. You can always use Dräger talk, but sometimes that doesn’t work that well. There are universal hand signals very similar to the hand and arm signals when patrolling.  

There are a lot of different hand signals, used by divers especially in different fields of diving. However, with some basic hand signals, you can dive with anyone in the world.  

Going Up or Down

Use a thumbs up signal to indicate that you are going up, or a thumbs down to indicate the opposite.

I’m Okay

Place your thumb and forefinger together forming a circle and leave the other three fingers extended upright. This is the same as you would say OK as you would above water.

Stop

Signal your dive buddy to stop by holding up one hand; the same as you would in any other instance. You can also use a closed fist like being on patrol.

Changing Direction

Just like with up and down, point your thumb (or your index finger) to indicate which direction you’re heading. You can point again like on land

Turn Around

To let everyone know it’s time to turn around, put your index finger up and rotate in a circle. Similar to rally-up.

Slow Down

Place your hand in front of you with your palm facing down. Wave your hand up and down to indicate that you need everyone to slow down a bit.

Level Off

To indicate that you want to level off once you’ve reached a certain depth, put your hand out in front of you, palm down, and wave it back and forth.

Something’s Wrong

Place your hand out in front of you, fingers spread and palm down. Wave your hand back and forth in a rocking motion. It is similar to the hand signal maybe.  

Help!

Wave your entire arm from outstretched by your side to over your head. Repeat the motion as long as you need to.

I’m Low on Air

It takes practice to be able to make your air last. Clench your hand into a fist and pull it in toward your chest. Repeat as much as you need to indicate how urgently you need to resurface. When diving a rebreather, you should point at the pressure gauge. With some of the newer rebreathers, you can pull your gauge out and show it to your dive buddy if needed.  

I’m Out of Air

If something has gone wrong with your equipment, signal quickly and repeatedly. Place your hand, palm down in front of your throat and move back and forth in a cutting motion.

You can always pull on your buddy-line to get your buddies attention, and once you have dived a couple of times together, you will start to understand what each other wants and needs. Diving at night or in low-viability is way different than diving in the day time in clear water. Sometimes diving in real lousy visibility in the day time is worse than diving at night. So, knowing how to communicate is very important. Bottom line is as long as you and your dive buddy understand what you are saying to each other you should be good. So, make sure you at least talk to the person your diving with to have the basic’s down.