The Normalization of Deviation... something for all levels of diver to think about

[Doppler]

Please follow link to my blog

https://decodoppler.wordpress.com/20...n-of-deviance/

 

[Michael Guerrero]

It's funny to see this posted. This is something we see in the military that helps us understand how catastrophic accidents happen and what we need to be on guard for.

 

[TONY CHANEY]

Great write up and I totally agree. If anybody sticks around diving long enough you will hear the stories of the usual "just another same-ol-same-ol dive" that went south very fast and the outcome was not expected at the moment but after looking back you could see it coming a mile away. Latest one was the American dive that died in Mexico post cave dive. There is also the Carlos cave dive. And the list is very long.

My buddies and I treat every dive as a "true dive" and not just the usual same-ol-same-ol dive that we have done hundreds of times before. There have been several post dive "discussions" pertaining to "what the heck was you doing down there?" I often remind my buddies that I have a family that I told them that I will be home soon. I also told them that I have no desire to face their family and break the news to them that we screwed up and your love one will not be coming home tonight or ever. I have been on the receiving end of some of those discussions more than once for alternating a dive plan underwater.

I feel that this also plays into the solo thread where so many talked about only diving solo at shallow depths. Underwater is underwater! Just because it is shallow means very little. It is really hard to be alittle bit pregnant.

 

[TSandM]

I was thinking about the OW class we are teaching, as I read this. We emphasize gas management in our classes. We warn students that they will see many people skip buddy checks, and they should not do this. But I'm thinking the "graduation night" lecture ought to include a bit about normalization of deviance, and its seductive nature.

Two of my best diving friends started doing staged decompression diving on recreational single tank setups. Their reasoning was that, between them, they had thousands of dives without a catastrophic equipment failure, so they didn't think they needed redundancy to incur a deco obligation. That decision frightened me, and I was very glad that they did not do this often, or for very long (one quit diving). This epitomizes the normalization of deviance. They skipped the predictable surprise, thank goodness, because I was very fond of both of them.

 

[Wookie]

I see this more often than I would like, because I run a charter boat. The customer diving tech sidemount solo, Doppler? The diver with the failed dive computer who can't get back on tables and wants to know why I am sitting him out? The diver who doesn't understand why they can't drink all night, the depth is only 10 meters? The diver in an overhead on a single tank.

And they will fight you. "I paid good money to be on this boat". Yes sir, you did, and your family is counting on me to bring you home safely. As Jim Lapanta mentioned recently in another thread, nstructors and operators have to consider every decision we make in the context of opposing council asking the questions that make you squirm when you think about them. "Why did you let the diver back in the water when his computer had failed, Captain?" "What agency condones solo tech diving, Captain?"

 

[Doppler]

Spot on Frank. I wish I'd had this phrase in mind when I had the discussion with that particular diver.

 

[FiddlerOnTheRoof]

The Normalization of Deviation is something I have always been aware of and always make sure to keep in mind especially in a sports like scuba diving. Interestingly enough it's not something that most divers and scuba shops think about or consider. Just recently I upgraded a lot of my tech diving gear... After buying a second computer I told the shop owner that I also wanted a regular wrist mounted depth gauge to go along with the 2 computers. ""He asked me why? You don't need that!"" I explained that as a technical diver I understood the meaning of Normalization of Deviation and because of that I am a firm believer of the importance of having a backup-to-the-backup. He felt it was not needed and 2 computers was plenty.. To me 2 computers are great but if all else fails I have piece of mind I can always resort to my trusty depth gauge. Many divers would call me crazy but to give you an idea of my setup any dive over 60 feet I use my sidemount rig with 2 steel 100s a pony ss40, 2 computers, dive watch, wrist mounted compass and depth gauge and my pad with all my decos penciled in along with all the necessary fins, knife, etc... Call me crazy, but better safe and prepared then sorry and dead!

BTW... On dives over 100 feet I also take a ss80 regular air that I drop/clip at the bottom of the mooring line as a backup, anything over 150 I plan according to time and deco stops obviously.

Peter

 

[DarinJ]

My son & I did 40 dives together last year--most at 'our' regular lake dive site. By mid-season, we were starting to cut corners on buddy checks and other basics when we were 'just doing an easy dive'. I'm happy to say that we noticed the trend and reverted back to the true normal of treating each and every dive as if it was a 'pinnacle' dive for us. Our procedures and checks are once again the same for every dive--challenging, easy, or in between. I wish I had read this article much earlier. Thank you!

 

[KevinNM]

"What agency condones solo tech diving, Captain?"

I find it interesting that in "Doing it Right" and "Beyond The Daylight Zone" Jarrod Jablonski isn't as rigidly anti-solo as PADI is. Not that this is going to help you in court, but it is interesting.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Nice write up Steve. Like to talk to you about it in more detail. In the context of getting this into standards in some way as required teaching material.