SH245: Asking Why. Telling Stories. Owning Accountability

This episode explores how the diving community responds when something goes badly wrong and why the choice between blame and learning really matters. Drawing on three university research projects, it explains that after serious incidents people look for meaning through justice, learning, and sometimes punishment, and that visible learning can itself be a form of justice. The episode looks at why divers often struggle to share honest stories about near misses and accidents, including fear of judgment, legal worries, and online criticism, and why sharing clear, context-rich stories is essential for real safety improvement. It also explains that accountability is not just about finding fault but about choosing fair, forward-looking ways to improve systems, training, and teamwork. The key message is that diving becomes safer when we replace silence and scapegoating with open storytelling, curiosity, and accountability that focuses on learning and change rather than blame.

Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/asking-why-telling-stories-and-owning-accountability-lessons-for-diving

Links: The three theses: Møller (2023), Lock (2024), Parris (2025)

Summary of Lock’s thesis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRXqeQvRFK0&t=3s

Changing the language to help learning: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/change-your-language-change-the-world

DEBrIEF model: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief

The documentaries ‘If Only…’ and ‘Just a Routine Operation’

Tags: English, Gareth Lock, Incident Reporting, Just Culture, Psychological Safety