Andrzej GornickiToxic teams erode safety. On the surface, everything looks fine. A smiling DM, equipment all set, a briefing completed. Beneath the surface, however, conflict is being fuelled to the full.
Gareth LockOne serious event with a casualty; many gaps in performance. One fatality; a team working effectively, a robust debrief, and reduced post-event trauma. Same dive centre. Different instructors. Same Course Director. What was different? Applied Skills.
Gareth LockFollowing a conversation, veteran dive-industry underwriters reveal how diving insurance really works, why premiums are soaring, and why cover is no safety net. A clear-eyed look at claims, risk and why capability, not paperwork, keeps divers safe.
Brent WebbA successful dive shop owner reflects on how Human Factors became the invisible operating system running beneath his business. Customers buy diving, travel, & gear, but psychological safety, just culture, and reflection shape how everything happens.
Connor TateA researcher with five dives stands before a room of experts to present her work on stress and decision-making, then floods her mask at depth. A story about imposter syndrome, psychological safety, and why experience and theory both count underwater
Steve SmithSmith is the primary author and editor of Beneficial Risks and Safety Science for Outdoor & Experiential Education as well as the host of an outdoor risk management podcast. He lives in Langley, Washington and loves exploring the Pacific Northwest
Human factors, non-technical skills and learning from emergent outcomes for the divers who refuse the bad-apple story.
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© 2026 The Human Diver