Deep questions: What diving teaches us about risk

Words Caroline Roberts. Additional reporting by David Waller.

Are you prepared for the unthinkable? In a hazardous world, managers can learn from the world of scuba diving: train hard, because you’ll never get rid of risk

Shortcut to start of content
Gareth Lock, founder of The Human Diver. Photo: Barbara Leatham

In 2018, Brian Bugge, a sailor in the US Navy and an experienced diver, entered the water off Hawaii on a technical training course. It was the sort of thing he’d done plenty of times before. This time, however, he hadn’t configured his breathing equipment correctly. Within minutes, his brain was starved of oxygen. Brian became hypoxic, lost consciousness and drowned.

Gareth Lock, founder of The Human Diver, which delivers risk training for diving and other high-risk activities, has worked with Brian’s widow and dive peers to make a documentary about Brian’s tragic death. It aims to highlight the true nature of risk, and how simple mistakes and everyday pressures, from family concerns to stress over schedules, can conspire to play a critical role in things going wrong.

“This was one moment, a single mistake that anybody could have made and survived,” says Gareth. “But all the negative factors came together just at the right time and created something that wasn't survivable.

Want to learn more about what diving can teach managers about navigating risk?

Login

If you are already registered as a CMI Friend, Subscriber or Member, just login to view this article.

Confirm your registration

Login below to confirm your details and access this article.

Forget?

Please confirm that you want to switch off the "Sign in with email" remember me feature.

Register for Free Access

Not yet a Member, Subscriber or Friend? Register as a CMI Friend for free, and get access to this and many other exclusive resources, as well as weekly updates straight to your inbox.

You have successfully registered

As a CMI Friend, you now have access to whole range of CMI Friendship benefits.

Please login to the left to confirm your registration and access the article.