About SeaSigns Underwater Communication
SeaSigns Founder
Suzanne Kiffmann founded SeaSigns, Inc. to provide SCUBA divers of all skill levels with an inexpensive, easy-to-learn and easy-to-use way to communicate under water which increases underwater fun and safety.
Suzanne was first certified in NASDS in 1983 and also has a couple of PADI advanced open water certifications. She has over 1000 dives. While Suzsea says boat dives are great, she really enjoys shore dives, and loves night dives.
Suzanne has dived in California and the Channel Islands off California, the west coast of Baja California, Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii in Hawaii, the Sea of Cortez, the Revillagigedo Islands, Cozumel in Mexico, Bahamas, Caymans, Bonaire, the Great Barrier Reef and Rowley Shoals in Australia, Somosomo Straits in Fiji, and the Red Sea. This diving included assisting in research at Bonaire, Bedwell Island (Rowley Shoals), and Cabo Pulmo (Baja California del Sur, Mexico).
“Much of the time I was diving with whatever partner was available — sometimes we did not even speak the same language. I found that exept for a very few signs the signs taught varied between agencies and even more between cultures. I was frustrated expecting a person who I had just met trying to read my mind underwater. Heck it was frustrating expecting buddies I often dove with in California to read my mind when I tried to communicate.”
The History of SeaSigns
SeaSigns, LLC. began humbly when Suzanne realized that her deaf niece, Mavis, and her brother, Jim Irwin, who both sign, were able to share all sorts of information very quickly during the their dives. Suzanne decided that she wanted to provide for herself and other divers the power and speed that signing gives to underwater communication.
Suzanne mentioned to Lorna, Mavis’ mother, how much easier it was for her to remember a sign if she could relate it to an image. Lorna combined her graphic art skills, years of sign language classes, practice in signing, and a sense of whimsy to create the colorful memory aids that enhance the learning process.
More information about SeaSigns
SeaSigns, LLC. is now recognized as the leader of underwater signing. To find out more about our underwater communication system click one of the following:
Signing Methods for more information about methods and materials.
FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions.
Request Information for requesting an introductory CD with printed information.