SH280: This Could Happen to Any Dive Operator: What We Can Really Learn From The Perth Diving Academy Incident

Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving · May 20, 2026 · 9m

This episode explores the serious incident in which two divers were accidentally left behind by a dive boat near Rottnest Island while diving with Perth Diving Academy. Rather than treating it as the failure of one operator, the discussion looks at how a simple error—such as a headcount mistake—can reveal deeper weaknesses in safety systems that may exist across the dive charter industry. It explains how many operations rely on habits, assumptions, and informal checks that usually work, but can fail when conditions change. The episode also looks at the limits of fines and punishment, which…