Stay ConnectedHuman factors is a critical topic within the world of SCUBA diving, scientific diving, military diving, and commercial diving. This podcast is a mixture of interviews and ‘shorts’ which are audio versions of the weekly blog from The Human Diver.
Each month we will look to have at least one interview and one case study discussion where we look at an event in detail and how human factors and non-technical skills contributed (or prevented) it from happening in the manner it did.
Copyright: © 2023 (c) The Human Diver 2023
In this episode, we explore the critical role of leadership in diving, focusing on the responsibilities dive professionals take on as role models. From following standard operating procedures to fostering psychological safety, we discuss how every action, intentional or not, shapes the behavior of students and less experienced divers. We emphasize the importance of admitting mistakes to build trust and create a learning environment where open dialogue thrives. Additionally, we highlight the value of continued education to stay empathetic and relatable as instructors. Ultimately, great dive leadership extends beyond technical skills, shaping safer and more confident divers.
Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/the-diving-professional-leadership-is-not-optional
Links: Blogs about Leadership: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog?tag=leadership
Tags: English, Guy Shockey, Leadership, Psychological Safety
The holiday season often highlights how stress can strain relationships and impact decision-making, both in everyday life and high-stakes activities like scuba diving. Stress narrows our focus, making it easy to miss critical information or react impulsively. Using tools like Viktor Frankl's concept of the space between stimulus and response, or the mantra "Stop, Think, Breathe, Act," we can pause and respond thoughtfully under pressure. Real-life diving scenarios—like an instructor managing a student emergency, a diver dealing with damaged gear, or a Dive Master handling group separation—illustrate how stress can shape outcomes. By identifying stressors using the HALT method (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) and reflecting on events with curiosity rather than judgment, we can learn, grow, and make better decisions, both underwater and on land.
Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/stress-a-challenge-we-all-face
Tags: English, Mike Mason, Performance Shaping Factors, Stress
In this episode, we dive into what makes an effective team, both above and below the surface. Using insights from a dive centre in Egypt, we explore how teamwork goes beyond buddy pairs, emphasizing shared goals, mutual accountability, and trust. We discuss why planning, adaptability, and understanding each other's roles are key to working interdependently, especially in dynamic environments like diving. Whether you're guiding, learning, or just enjoying the dive, every diver is part of the team. Join us as we reflect on how small changes can strengthen teamwork and improve safety and enjoyment for everyone. How does your team measure up?
Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/teams-buddies-the-difference
Tags: English, Jenny Lord, Team, Teamwork, Trust
In this episode, we explore how asking the right questions can transform communication, whether during a dive briefing or a post-dive debrief. We discuss the difference between closed questions, which provide quick answers, and open questions, which encourage deeper understanding and learning. Using techniques like TEDS (Tell, Explain, Describe, Show), we can foster better communication, ensure alignment within the team, and create an environment where everyone feels safe to speak up. We also cover how to frame debrief questions to focus on events rather than individuals, encouraging growth and collaboration. Effective communication is all about how you ask, not just what you ask.
Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/communications-ask-better-questions
Tags: English, Brief, Communication, Communications, Debrief, Mike Mason
In this episode, we explore how cognitive biases like hindsight bias, severity bias, outcome bias, and confirmation bias impact our ability to learn from accidents and incidents, both in diving and beyond. Using recent Red Sea liveaboard tragedies as a backdrop, we discuss why some events seem “obvious” only in hindsight, how severe outcomes lead to harsher judgments, and the danger of stopping investigations once a single cause is found. By understanding how biases shape our reactions, we can shift from judgment to learning, asking better questions and uncovering the deeper factors behind decisions and actions.
Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/we-are-all-biased
Links: BBC articles: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3z0k72yw3o
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87dxx41lvvo
Sea story sinking news report (in German): https://taucher.net/diveinside-safariboot_sea_story_im_roten_meer_gesunken-kaz9391
List of Red Sea dive boat sinkings: https://matthiasmunz.de/Sunken_Diving_Safari_Boats_Egypt/
Tags: English, Cognitive Biases, Decision Making, Decision-Making, Gareth Lock, Hindsight Bias, Jenny Lord
In this episode, we dive into the story of a diver’s lost fin to explore the challenges of decision-making, task fixation, and situation awareness underwater. Through the lens of a training dive gone awry, we uncover how both students and instructors can fall into cognitive traps, focusing narrowly on immediate tasks while losing sight of broader risks. Highlighting the importance of structured debriefing, reflective discussions, and the DEBrIEF model, we discuss how understanding "how it made sense" in the moment can lead to better mental models and a culture of learning in diving. This tale is a reminder that diving isn’t just about technical skills—it’s about building awareness, fostering teamwork, and learning from every experience.
Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/the-lost-fin-a-lesson-in-situation-awarness
Tags: English, Andrzej Górnicki, Debrief, Decision-Making, Hindsight Bias, Situation Awareness
This podcast dives into the analysis of a cave diving fatality at Cenote Nariz in Mexico, based on a detailed report by the Creer Line and Safety Committee. The incident highlights critical lessons for divers in all environments, emphasizing the importance of understanding human factors, decision-making, and context in adverse events. While the exact cause of the diver's seizure remains uncertain, likely contributors include hypercapnia or hyperoxia, exacerbated by equipment and procedural factors. Broader lessons focus on fostering safety cultures, avoiding the normalization of risk, maintaining equipment rigor, and embracing systems that encourage learning without blame. Join us to explore how these insights can improve safety and awareness across diving disciplines.
Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/change-your-language-change-the-world
Links: Podcast ‘Hidden Brain’- are our memories real?: https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/are-your-memories-real/
Blog about Agency: https://indepthmag.com/the-role-of-agency-when-discussing-diving-incidents-an-adverse-event-occurs-an-instructor-makes-a-mistake/
Learning Reviews: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/learning-reviews-in-diving
Podcast ‘How did it make sense’: https://www.humaninthesystem.co.uk/hits-hdims
How language changes the way we think TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKK7wGAYP6k
The Power and Pitfalls of Language in Accident Investigation: https://nescacademy.nasa.gov/video/2c1ea826930946ff8659621ee83bec931d
The Power Of Language: https://mindsetleadership.co.uk/2023/09/01/the-power-of-language/
Tags: English, Cognitive Biases, Communication, Gareth Lock, Incident Analysis, Incident Reporting
This podcast dives into the analysis of a cave diving fatality at Cenote Nariz in Mexico, based on a detailed report by the CREER Line and Safety Committee. The incident highlights critical lessons for divers in all environments, emphasizing the importance of understanding human factors, decision-making, and context in adverse events. While the exact cause of the diver's seizure remains uncertain, likely contributors include hypercapnia or hyperoxia, exacerbated by equipment and procedural factors. Broader lessons focus on fostering safety cultures, avoiding the normalization of risk, maintaining equipment rigor, and embracing systems that encourage learning without blame. Join us to explore how these insights can improve safety and awareness across diving disciplines.
Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/mx-singlefatality-report
Links: CREER: https://creer-mx.com/
Accident report: https://creer-mx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Single-Diver-Fatality-in-Cenote-Nariz-on-3-February-2024.pdf
A Just Culture is not a 'just do it' culture: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/a-just-culture-is-not-a-just-do-it-culture
Counterfactuals: I would have lined in: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/counterfactuals Why is it so hard to admit our mistakes?: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/why-is-it-so-hard-to-admit-to-our-mistakes
Tags: English, Cave Diving, Gareth Lock, Incident Analysis, Just Culture
This episode explores the power of small, intentional changes to improve teamwork, leadership, and performance in diving. Drawing from the Human Diver team's experience with a new training platform, we discuss how focusing on key skills like communication, task prioritization, and role clarity can create significant improvements. By embracing curiosity, running effective debriefs, sharing stories, and taking actionable steps, we can build safer, more effective diving practices. Change starts with small actions, and owning that change is the key to lasting impact.
Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/what-one-thing
Links: Marginal gains: https://jamesclear.com/marginal-gains
DEBrIEF guide: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief
If Only… documentary: https://www.thehumandiver.com/ifonly
The Human Diver blogs: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog
Contact Gareth: https://www.thehumandiver.com/contact
The Essentials class: https://www.thehumandiver.com/HFiD-Essentials
Level 1 Webinar: https://www.thehumandiver.com/hfid-level-1-webinar-series
Face-to-Face program: https://www.thehumandiver.com/hfid-level-2
2 relevant blogs: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/knowledge-is-not-enough-we-must-apply
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/the-power-of-one
Tags: English, Debrief, Decision-Making, Gareth Lock, If Only, Just Culture, Leadership
Leadership in diving is critical for navigating uncertain situations and achieving successful outcomes, whether you're teaching students, leading a dive project, or running a dive center. Drawing lessons from Ernest Shackleton's legendary leadership and modern theories of influence, this episode explores how effective leaders go beyond authority and management to inspire trust, foster psychological safety, and build personal connections. We discuss six key strategies for diving instructors, including defining a clear purpose, embracing humility, managing conflict constructively, learning from mistakes, adapting leadership styles, and showing genuine care for others. Tune in for actionable insights to enhance your leadership in the water and beyond.
Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/follow-me-trust-me-i-am-your-leader
Links: Building psychological safety in a team (part 1): https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1
Trust is based on 1:1 relationships: https://www.forbes.com/sites/shanesnow/2020/04/27/this-common-approach-to-earning-trust-completely-backfires-on-leaders/?sh=515264702fcb
Goodheart’s law: https://humanisticsystems.com/2019/10/24/shorrocks-law-of-limits/
Double-loop learning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-loop_learning
The Ladder of Inference: https://thesystemsthinker.com/the-ladder-of-inference/
Self Discovery techniques: https://spectrumofteachingstyles.org/index.php?id=21
The Myth of the Advert: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shackleton-probably-never-took-out-an-ad-seeking-men-for-a-hazardous-journey-5552379/
Tags: English, Communication, Gareth Lock, Leadership, Psychological Safety, Teamwork
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