SAFETY An Incident in Scuba Diving is an Accident that Didn’t Happen – by Dan Orr, President, Dan Orr Consulting
Scuba diving gives divers an opportu- nity for unparalleled underwater adven- ture and attracts thousands of enthusiasts each year. Yet, the underwa- ter world is an environment that de- mands respect, preparation, and
poor visibility; entanglement in seaweed, kelp or fishing line. Human Factors: Miscommunication with a buddy; ▪ miscalculation of breathing gas supply; anxiety or overexertion. Each of these incidents may, if not handled correctly, spiral into a much more serious situation. The diver who calmly and properly ascends to the surface in the event of a broken fin strap. The dive buddies that recognize and adapt to a strong current avoid being swept off course. The distinction between incident and accident is not always clear-cut. Many accidents, when reviewed after the fact, are found to have started as minor incidents. The diver who ig- nores a slow leak in their high-pressure hose may be, without realizing, setting the stage for a catastrophic loss of breathing gas. The diver who shrugs off early symptoms of nitrogen narcosis may find themselves disoriented and vulnerable at depth. In accident investigation reports, a recurring theme is the presence of “near misses,” situations where disaster was nar-
constant vigilance. Among the many phrases that circulate in the diving community, one stands out for its directness and gravity: “An incident in scuba diving is just an accident that didn’t happen.” This statement, seemingly simple, is layered with meaning and serves as a guiding principle for divers who wish to explore the depths safely. At its core, the phrase suggests a continuum between inci- dents and accidents. In the context of scuba diving, an inci- dent is any event or situation that deviates from the planned or expected course, potentially endangering the diver or their companions. An accident, on the other hand, is the culmina- tion of those deviations – when things go truly wrong and result in injury, loss, or worse. What distinguishes the two is often a matter of chance,
quick thinking, or preparedness. An incident may be a mask flooding, regulator free-flow, or a momentary loss of buoyancy control. These are interruptions – disruptions to the smooth flow of a dive, but not cata-
rowly avoided. These near misses, or incidents, are invalu- able learning opportunities. Div- ing organizations such as Divers Alert Network (DAN) encour- age divers to report not only ac- cidents but also incidents, to
strophic in themselves. An accident occurs when such inter- ruptions escalate: a mask flood causes disorientation or water inhalation, the regulator continues to free-flow leading to panic and drowning, and a rapid ascent results in decompres- sion sickness or arterial gas embolism. The phrase, therefore, serves as a warning: Every incident is a potential accident in disguise. It is a reminder to treat even minor deviations seriously, to reflect on them, understand why they happened, learn from them, and strive to prevent their recurrence. Incidents in scuba diving are varied, and their severity ranges from the trivial to the near-fatal. Here are some ex- amples: Equipment Malfunction: A fin strap breaks mid-dive; ▪ a BCD power inflator sticks open; a regulator free-flows. Environmental Challenges : Unexpected currents; ▪
build a database that can inform safer practices for all. Why do some divers respond well to incidents, while others allow them to escalate? The answer lies in training, experience, and mindset. Training: Divers who have recently practiced emer- ▪ gency procedures – mask clearing, out-of-breathing gas drills, sharing breathing gas – are more likely to respond effectively under pressure. Experience: Divers with experience, especially recent ▪ experience, have often encountered and resolved a vari- ety of incidents without ever realizing they had the po- tential to escalate to more serious situations; their confidence and recent experience enables calm and me- thodical responses. Mindset: The better divers are those who anticipate ▪ problems and maintain situational awareness throughout the dive. They monitor their own status, their equip-
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