SH282: Isolation Amplifies Drift: When Remote Operations Make Small Deviations Invisible

Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving · May 27, 2026 · 11m

This blog by Michael John Snow explores how small equipment issues on a remote expedition vessel can gradually become accepted as “normal,” not because of poor decisions, but because of how isolated systems work. In these environments, teams are skilled and focused on keeping operations running, especially when guests, tight schedules, and limited support make stopping costly. With fewer external checks and less immediate feedback, minor irregularities are often monitored rather than acted on, and over time they fade into the background. This process, known as normalization of deviation…