Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving

Dive into the fascinating concept of the illusory truth effect, where repeated falsehoods can shape our beliefs. Discover how social media echo chambers amplify this cognitive bias, making it hard to distinguish fact from fiction. The discussion reveals the troubling impact on diving practices, where outdated 'common knowledge' persists. Learn how questioning information, especially when it aligns with our beliefs, is crucial. Emphasizing the need for diverse perspectives, this conversation challenges us to think critically about what we accept as truth.

In this episode, we dive into the issue of diving standards and safety, particularly how some instructors may not follow proper procedures, putting students at risk. Unlike other outdoor sports, the underwater environment makes it difficult to monitor and ensure that standards are upheld. This episode explores why this might be happening, such as the pressure on instructors to certify students quickly, and how the certification-focused culture in diving often prioritizes collecting cards over gaining real experience. We also discuss the importance of addressing safety concerns constructively, encouraging a culture of learning and improvement rather than punishment, to ensure that divers are truly prepared and safe in the water.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/standards-why-do-we-have-them-and-what-can-we-do-if-someone-breaks-them   Links: Gareth’s Thesis “Story Telling to Learn: What happens underwater, stays underwater” Blogs about Just Culture https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog?tag=just+culture   Tags:  English, Instruction, Jenny Lord, Just Culture, Learning

In this episode, we explore the importance of experience in diving and how it shapes decision-making and problem-solving. Experience helps divers build mental models that guide them in various situations, but beginners often face challenges because they don't know what they don't know. We discuss the value of curiosity in learning, emphasizing the need to ask questions, seek quality information, and understand the "why" behind rules and skills. By combining curiosity with experience, divers can better recognize gaps in their knowledge and adapt to new situations more effectively.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-do-novices-know-what-questions-to-ask   Links: Who is responsible for learning blog https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/who-is-responsible-for-learning David Snowden’s paper https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241660493_Complex_Acts_of_Knowing_Paradox_and_Descriptive_Self-Awareness   Tags:  English, Instruction, Jenny Lord, Learning

In this episode, we explore how divers can manage extreme stress in life-threatening situations. While technical skills and knowledge are vital, the ability to stay calm and focused under pressure is crucial. We discuss strategies like controlled breathing, tactical thinking, and continuous training to enhance mental resilience. Techniques such as stress inoculation training and mindfulness can help divers maintain composure and make sound decisions when it matters most. This holistic approach to readiness goes beyond survival, ensuring divers can perform effectively even in chaotic conditions.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/survival-instinct-reaction-to-stress Links: Reducing biological stress https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/16/2351 Breathing allowing us to focus https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/psyp.13952 Tactical breathing vs prolonged exhalation https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10484-020-09485-w Other references: Dillard CC, Martaindale H, Hunter SD, McAllister MJ. “Slow Breathing Reduces Biomarkers of Stress in Response to a Virtual Reality Active Shooter Training Drill.” Healthcare. 2023; 11(16):2351. Driskell, J. E., Johnston, J. H., & Salas, E. “Does Stress Training Generalize to Novel Settings?” Human Factors. 1999; 41(1), 99-110. Driskell, J. E., & Salas, E. “Stress and Human Performance.” 1996. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Jha, A.P., Stanley, E.A., & Baime, M.J. “The Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation in Improving Performance in High-Stress Situations.” Mindfulness. 2010; 1(2), 95-103. Laborde, S., Allen, M.S., Borges, U., Hosang, T.J., Furley, P., Mosley, E., & Dosseville, F. “The Influence of Slow-Paced Breathing on Executive Function.” Journal of Psychophysiology. 2021; 36(1). Röttger, S., Theobald, D.A., Abendroth, J. et al. “The Effectiveness of Combat Tactical Breathing as Compared with Prolonged Exhalation.” Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2021; 46, 19–28. Tags:  English, Andrzej Górnicki, Diving Psychology, Non-Technical Skills, Performance Shaping Factors, Stress

In this episode, we discuss the concept of experience in diving and how it goes beyond simply logging a certain number of dives. True experience comes from the quality of dives, solving problems, and learning from mistakes in varied environments and conditions. We explore why minimum dive numbers shouldn't be seen as targets and highlight the importance of breadth and depth in diving experiences. Understanding that the same dive repeated 100 times doesn't equate to 100 unique dives is key, and embracing mistakes as learning opportunities is essential to becoming a skilled diver or instructor.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/what-do-we-mean-by-experience   Links: Blog about learning https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/who-is-responsible-for-learning Building experience https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/you-need-more-than-mistakes-to-learn The same dives 100 times isn’t the same as 100 dives https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/unleashing-your-sixth-sense Why we need experience https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/the-importance-of-experience   Tags:  English, Instruction, Jenny Lord, Learning, Rules, Training

In this episode, we explore Jenny’s journey as a diving instructor who discovered that teaching goes beyond technical skills and dives into the complexities of human behavior and communication. She realized that understanding and applying the concept of "situation awareness" was the missing piece in helping students who seemed competent but lacked a crucial element. This episode highlights how learning the language of human factors can deepen our understanding of ourselves and others, enhancing both teaching and learning by bridging gaps in communication and awareness.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/speaking-the-right-language   Tags:  English, Communication, Jenny Lord

In this episode, we explore how human factors and non-technical skills can be applied to diving and diving instruction to enhance safety and performance. We discuss strategies like training senior instructors, fostering psychological safety, and promoting a culture of learning through context-rich storytelling. Practical tools include effective team communication, structured debriefs, and encouraging mutual accountability. The episode emphasizes the importance of a gradual paradigm shift towards incorporating these skills in training, supported by a wealth of resources available to divers and instructors looking to improve their practices and build stronger, safer teams.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/practical-application-of-teamwork-in-diver-training   Links: Video about compliance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNhmxz2_adc Blog about compliance https://indepthmag.com/compliance-provides-an-illusion-of-safety-in-diving/ The gaps between what should happen and what does happen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtgIwHrUWVQ How to build a team blogs (series of 4) https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 Checklist design blogs https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-building-an-effective-checklist https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-improve-diving-checklist-design-and-use Speaking up https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/navigating-the-authority-gradient Structured briefing (UNITED-C) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTM_Lh7HtmA Constructive dissent https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/challenger-safety-control Debrief model https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief Counterfactuals https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/shoulda-woulda-coulda Don’t look at the outcome, look at the context https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/its-obvious-why-it-happened Continual learning and reflection https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/the-road-to-excellence-systems-and-structure-form-the-foundation-of-a-culture-of-improvement What should happen compared to what does happen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErhRa9i2giA Putting HF into technical diver training programmes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noO1g3JnPRA If Only….documentary https://www.thehumandiver.com/ifonly Human Diver Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@thehumandiver863/featured Tags: English, Gareth Lock, Teamwork

In this episode, we delve into the responsibilities of diving instructors and students in ensuring divers are competent and prepared for independent diving. Initially, instructors must provide comprehensive training, but as divers gain experience, they must take responsibility for identifying and addressing knowledge gaps. The discussion highlights the importance of continuous learning, as some divers assume they know everything once certified, leading to potentially dangerous situations. The role of social media in learning is debated, with some preferring direct answers over independent research. We emphasize the need for open, constructive discussions about mistakes and learning opportunities to promote safety and growth within the diving community. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/who-is-responsible-for-learning Tags:  English, Jenny Lord, Learning

In this episode, we discuss the complexities of understanding diving accidents and human communication. A recent diving fatality in Norway prompts reflection on how quickly we jump to conclusions and how our minds fill gaps with assumptions. Human Factors teach us to slow down, consider multiple perspectives, and understand that our memories and stories evolve over time. Effective communication, especially in high-stress situations, requires recognizing our biases and the importance of context. By focusing on asking questions rather than making judgments, we can better understand and learn from incidents, fostering a more comprehensive and less judgmental approach.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/diving-accidents-the-want-to-know-what-happened-and-why   Links: Cognitive dissonance blogs by Jenny: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/cognitive-dissonance-or-why-we-don-t-always-follow-our-beliefs And Gareth: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/cognitive-dissonance Blog about joining the dots: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/joining-dots-is-easy-if-you-know-the-outcome Conversations triggering ideas: https://youtu.be/E9TaHfvlyoU?t=986 Learning review guide for diving: https://www.thehumandiver.com/lr-diving Fit to Dive, Dealing with Trauma in Diving: https://blog.fittodive.org/2023/01/18/scuba-diving-ptsd/   Tags:  English, Gareth Lock, Incident Analysis, Just Culture, Psychological Safety

In this episode, we explore the concept of Human Factors, which, as one insightful 10-year-old put it, is like mind reading. Human Factors involves understanding and improving how we communicate, make decisions, and work together. Humans often struggle with communication, unlike animals that navigate and cooperate effortlessly. By focusing on what’s said, what isn’t, and how it’s conveyed, Human Factors helps us avoid misunderstandings and mistakes. It enhances teamwork and leadership by fostering better awareness of each other’s knowledge, needs, and limits. This makes it easier to do the right thing and harder to do the wrong thing, bringing us closer to being effective “mind readers” in our interactions.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/Mind-Reading-for-Beginners   Tags:  English, Communication, Decision Making, Human Factors, Jenny Lord, Leadership, Situation Awareness, Teamwork