SH286: The Shortcut That Gets You Home — and the One That Doesn't

Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving · Jun 10, 2026 · 10m

Divers make many decisions quickly, often without realising it, by using heuristics—mental shortcuts that help us act fast when time and information are limited. These shortcuts are essential and often effective, especially with experience, but they can also lead to predictable errors called biases when used in the wrong situation. Common examples include relying too much on recent experience, sticking to an original plan despite changing conditions, or only noticing information that supports what we already believe. In diving, where conditions vary and feedback is often limited, these biases…