Accidents on the water do happen.
It should be ( or already is ) a special hand sign or signal that person needs immediate help.
Something 100% recognizable as SOS on the water not a greeting, or something else.
Some gesture that could be recognized by anybody as need for immediate help.
Watching this video is the obvious reminder.
I did such arrangements within my own windsurfing family but there could be nice to have a universal signs, nobody could misunderstood.
I thought your link was related to hand signals not some windsurfer in waist deep water with people all around him speaking jibberish......
Abit misleading IMO.
This picture is funny but the correct signal for sos/distress/need help.
Edited : you can cross your arm's whilst at the highest position - however if your injured or stuffed from wading in the water you run the risk of drowing from the higher position and using more energy - hence the pic
If I'm wrong some one please correct.
^^^^ Your funny.....
Kitesurfer - Windsurfer - Whale rider - whatever your water rec sport is....
Commonsense would be wave 1 arm across the full radius. Unless your also a duck diver and you could wave your legs in that motion. Might be a good practice for you to learn
I love this site so many sandy cracks
^^^ HUH
What are you smoking.....to many 
maybe
On your profile you say watersking - yet you would not use this signal!!!
Just plain bizarre.
You need to know the difference from an attack and advice there chief.
The method above is the recognized international signal - but as a water skier you would know this..
Why are you so angry?, the worlds a beautiful place.
maybe
maybe
If anyone is down in the water after a stack then I think most people have a good look as they go past. If they just wave an arm then that's all that's needed to indicate that they need assistance of some sort.
I usually stop and check if I see someone's been down for more than about 30 seconds with not much action towards getting up again, even with no waving at all.
Happy to say, help is mostly not required but sometimes it is.
You never know when someone might be in such a state tht they can't even wave an arm.
I like it, pweedas. At least constructive discussion started.
In fact ignorance is more dangerous that sharks in dark water and more painful that Irukandji stings.
If any researcher, politician will read SB one day - they will come to one conclusion.
People are unable to educate themselves and take care by their own.
They will introduce compulsory registration, licencing and trainings, safety kits etc.
All I wanted was to remind what distress signal looks like and discuss rescue methods if possible.
For example I do carry 2 meters long string/rope just in case for my own small repairs or towing back to safety somebody gear.
I must say that towing is not exactly easiest thing on modern equipment and without practice although easier then plane gybing could put both victim and rescuer at danger.
I don't use hand signals.
I just yell
"OWW! FARK! MY LEG! ARRGGHH! FARKIN KITESURFER!"
Even the missus can hear me complaining and she aint even at the beach!
Its pretty difficult to spot someone in heavy seas and high wind but i allways keep an eye out. I have gone past someone about 20 metres away and not noticed hin waving before.
The latest events prove that SOS doesn't mean sometimes SOS 
Asylum seeker drill holes in order to sink a boat or sabotage by other means, and looking/(demand) for road assistance.
In all boat sailing or just floating around the world there are not so many that when loaded with cargo definitely get into emergency and prone to sunk unless rescued;
Similarly should be distinctive signal if we are in the water dying almost or just have technical difficulty. Urgency in this two matters is completely different..
Sooooo i'm a bit confused.
If I'm ever in trouble in the water I...
Flip the bird while waving my arms and yelling out Fark Kitesurfer whilst hanging onto 2 metres of rope???
