All Episodes
Episodes
SH169: âThe root cause of an accident is our imaginationâ
Accidents in diving, and life, rarely stem from a single "root cause" but rather from a complex interplay of factorsâtechnical skills, context, randomness, and non-technical skills like communication and...
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SH168: What is a mistake? What is an error? Words have meanings.
In this episode, Gareth Lock delves into the nature of human error, exploring concepts like slips, lapses, mistakes, and violations through the lens of safety research and diving experiences. Drawing on James Reasonâs...
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SH167: Only 20% of surgeons would like to use a checklist in their operationsâŚ
In this episode, Gareth Lock explores the critical role of checklists in enhancing safety and reducing errors in high-risk environments like diving, surgery, and aviation. Drawing insights from Atul Gawande's The...
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SH166: You canât run before you can walk...
In this episode, Bart Den Ouden reflects on the importance of mastering the basics before taking on advanced challenges, using ice diving as a vivid example. During a rare opportunity for ice diving in the...
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SH165: âYou can lead a horse to water, but you canât make it drink.â Or can you..?
In this episode, we explore the critical role of leadership and decision-making in diving safety, using a real-life story about a young instructor, âJack,â who made a risky dive on a rebreather he wasnât certified to...
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SH164: Plan to fail safely â Part 2: Passing the test doesnât say it all
In this episode, we explore how listening to your inner voice can be a lifesaver, both in diving and everyday life. Bart Den Ouden shares his personal journey of uncovering severe heart issues despite passing regular...
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SH163: Who owns the risk in diving when something goes wrong?
In this episode, we delve into risk management and decision-making in diving, exploring the difference between personal and professional responsibilities. Using a case of a divemaster tasked with guiding divers on a...
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SH162: Plan to fail safely - teaching students/candidates for the real world
In this episode, we explore the importance of preparing for failure in diving education, inspired by Hal Watts' quote: âThe most dangerous thing about diving is divers themselves.â Using a real-life example from a...
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SH161: âOne mistake and you are deadâ â isnât how accidents normally happen
In this episode, we explore the dangers of "normalisation of deviance"âthe gradual erosion of safety standards through repeated shortcutsâand its impact on rebreather diving and other high-risk activities. Drawing on...
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SH160: Outcomes are so sexy and attractiveâŚ
This episode dives into the critical role of human factors in safety, using a tragic aviation incident and its parallels in diving to illustrate how distractions, pressures, and systemic issues contribute to...
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SH159: The best is the enemy of the good
In this episode, a newly qualified Human Factors in Diving Instructor shares their journey of grappling with impostor syndrome and the challenges of teaching human factors to divers. Despite over a decade of diving...
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SH158: Predictive Profiling & diving: âwhat deviates, deserves attention!â
This episode dives into the critical importance of recognizing deviations from the norm in diving, a concept rooted in situational awareness. Inspired by the 1972 attack at Lod Airport, Bart den Ouden draws parallels...
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