Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving

This episode looks at how diving accidents are often explained in simple ways that blame individuals, instead of exploring the deeper systems and pressures that shape what really happens. It explains that investigations are not just about facts, but about meaning, comfort, and fear after someone has died, which often leads to stories that focus on “human error” instead of learning. Using real examples, it shows how simple explanations may feel reassuring, but they don’t make diving safer. Real prevention comes from understanding how people, training, culture, pressure, equipment, and organisations interact in complex ways. The key message is that safety doesn’t come from finding someone to blame — it comes from changing the conditions that shape decisions and behaviour, so future dives are genuinely safer, not just easier to explain.Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/post/what-is-the-purpose-of-an-investigationLinks: Dekker’s four competing purposes: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1463922X.2014.955554Fatal maritime collision investigation: https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/collision-between-ro-ro-passenger-vessel-scottish-viking-and-prawn-trawler-homeland-off-st-abb-s-head-scotland-with-loss-of-1-lifeNon-fatal maritime collision investigation: https://dmaib.com/reports/2014/kraslava-and-atlantic-lady-collision-on-1-november-2014Blog about Linnea Mills: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/linnea-mills-death-hf-systems-lensIf Only… documentary: https://www.thehumandiver.com/ifonlyLearning from Emergent Outcomes course: https://www.thehumandiver.com/lfeoReferences:Dekker: The psychology of accident investigation: epistemological, preventive, moral and existential meaning-making. 2015. Another link. https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/items/d0de2c1f-08f8-43b2-9d30-2a4ff6baea09/fullMAIB Report: https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/collision-between-ro-ro-passenger-vessel-scottish-viking-and-prawn-trawler-homeland-off-st-abb-s-head-scotland-with-loss-of-1-lifeDMAIB Report: https://dmaib.com/reports/2014/kraslava-and-atlantic-lady-collision-on-1-november-2014A fellow graduate from Lund University wrote about this “Why do we ask why? Finding meaning after a violent loss.”Tags: English| Learning, Incidents & Just Culture

This blog explains why hiding mistakes in diving training and leadership is dangerous, and why honesty builds safer, stronger teams. Using real examples from military service and diving, it shows that when leaders admit errors, teams learn faster, trust each other more, and make better decisions. When mistakes are hidden, people stop asking questions, small problems become normal, and serious risks grow over time. The article introduces the idea of psychological safety — creating an environment where people feel safe to speak up, admit mistakes, and challenge unsafe actions without fear. It argues that real credibility comes from honesty, not pretending to be perfect. By encouraging openness, shared responsibility, and learning instead of blame, dive teams can prevent accidents, improve performance, and build a culture where safety, trust, and learning come first.Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/post/the-hidden-cost-of-never-show-weakness-why-hiding-instructor-errors-undermines-dive-safetyTags: English| Sense-making, Decision-making, & Psychology

This episode explores the link between diving, mental health, and trust, showing that anxiety, depression, and therapy are common parts of normal life and are also present in the diving community. Many divers hide mental health challenges or medication use because they fear judgment, exclusion, or losing opportunities, which actually makes diving less safe. The key message is that safety underwater depends more on trust between people than on equipment, and that honesty and psychological safety in a dive team allow divers to support each other properly. The episode explains that common treatments like antidepressants are not the real risk — the real danger comes from silence, stigma, and poor communication. It also highlights how diving can improve mental wellbeing, helping people feel calm, focused, and connected. Overall, the message is simple: openness about mental health is not weakness — it’s responsibility, professionalism, and an important part of keeping each other safe underwater.Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/post/diver-s-depression-it-s-time-to-tackle-stigma-and-taboosSourcesSt Leger Dowse, M. et al. (2019) – Diving and mental health: The potential benefits and risks from a survey of recreational scuba divers.A study of 729 recreational divers in the UK shows that divers have similar levels of mental health problems to the general population, with as many as 90% reporting an improvement in their well-being thanks to diving.Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine JournalMorgan, A. et al. (2019) – Can scuba diving offer therapeutic benefit to military veterans…An analysis of the Deptherapy UK program for veterans, confirming the therapeutic effects of diving in the treatment of PTSD and psychological trauma.Disability and Rehabilitation JournalSoldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (SUDS) – How Scuba Diving & SUDS Help War Veterans.Description of a therapeutic program in which diving helps war veterans regain their mental and physical balance.sudsdiving.orgUndersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) – Diving Medical Guidance to the Physician (2023).The latest medical guidelines on diving, psychotropic drugs, and mental health.uhms.orgWorld Health Organization (WHO) – Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders: Global Health Estimates (2022).Epidemiological data showing that approximately 25% of adults worldwide experience mental disorders.who.intGascon, M. et al. (2015) – Mental health benefits of long-term exposure to blue spaces.A review of research on the positive effects of aquatic environments (“blue spaces”) on mental health.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthWhite, M. P. et al. (2010) – Blue space: The importance of water for preference, affect, and restorativeness ratings.A study confirming that being in a water environment has a strong relaxing effect and reduces stress. Journal of Environmental PsychologyTags: - english andrzej górnicki

This episode looks back on a big year for Human Factors in Diving and shares what The Human Diver community has achieved, along with what’s coming next. It highlights how real change in diving doesn’t come from new gear or technology, but from learning, reflection, and improving how people think, communicate, and make decisions. The episode celebrates global training programmes, online courses, podcasts, blogs, and free resources that have helped thousands of divers grow their skills and awareness. It also looks ahead to new projects, including international events, new learning programmes, and wider access to training in 2026. The core message is simple: progress comes from consistent learning, honest self-reflection, and small daily improvements — being better than yesterday, not perfect today.Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/post/a-review-of-2025-looking-forward-to-2026-2597Links: Courses: HFiD: Essentials, HFiD: Applied Skills, Masterclass seriesHF in Diving ConferenceLearning from Emergent Outcomes (LFEO)Ambassador network (sign up here: https://www.thehumandiver.com/partner-mandated-instructor-application)YouTube channelGet in touchTags: English| Learning, Incidents & Just Culture

This episode looks at a real cave diving tragedy and uses it to explain how accidents often happen because of human thinking, not just broken rules or bad equipment. Instead of focusing on blame, it shows how choices made underwater can seem logical at the time, even when they lead to disaster. The episode explores key ideas like awareness, decision-making, teamwork, leadership, and psychological safety, and explains how stress, distraction, group pressure, and complex plans can affect how people think and act. It also highlights why good briefings, open communication, and honest debriefs matter, and why teams must feel safe to speak up and challenge decisions. The main message is that safer diving comes from understanding human behaviour, learning without blame, and building strong teams that plan well, communicate clearly, and adapt when things don’t go as expected.Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/post/analysis-from-a-human-factors-perspective-cave-double-fatality-calimba-2004Links: Blueprint for Survival: https://nsscds.org/blueprint-for-survival/Identifying lessons and learning from them vs blame and punishment: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/blame-or-learnonline resources that have a compendium of reports on cave diving fatalities:CREER https://creer-mx.com/accident-incident-analysis/NSS-CDS https://nsscds.org/accident-analysis/IUCRR - https://iucrr.org/more/accident-analysis/incident-reports/Jenny’s blog “Incompetent and Unaware”: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/the-dunning-kruger-effect-incompetent-or-competent-and-unawareYouTube channel: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/hf-for-dummies-part-1-human-factorsTags: - english accident analysis cave diving lanny vogel

This episode explains that real teamwork in diving is much more than just staying close to your buddy. Using a real incident where a diver tried to handle a serious problem alone, it shows how this can create new risks for the whole team. The key idea is that strong teams are built through clear roles, planning, and communication, not luck. When everyone knows who is responsible for things like navigation, monitoring the group, managing equipment, or handling problems, dives run more smoothly and safely. The episode highlights how assigning roles before a dive, confirming them in the briefing, and learning from them in the debrief helps reduce confusion, stress, and mistakes. The main message is simple: good teamwork doesn’t happen by accident — it is created through clear planning, shared responsibility, and learning together after every dive.Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/post/teamwork-in-diving-the-power-of-clear-roles-task-divisionLinks: Blogs about leadership: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/top-tips-for-diving-instructors-leadership-creating-the-space-for-others-to-be-heardhttps://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/the-diving-professional-leadership-is-not-optionalhttps://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/top-tips-for-beginner-divers-leadership-and-followership