SH232: Instructor Toxicity: Why one bad apple really does spoil the bunch

Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving · Dec 3, 2025 · 8m

This blog by Pedro Paulo Cunha explores the critical role of leadership in dive safety, highlighting how a toxic leader at a dive resort created a culture of fear, harassment, and stress that compromised both staff well-being and guest safety. Through the story of an experienced instructor facing verbal abuse and misconduct, the piece underscores the importance of psychological safety, just culture, and accountability in high-risk environments. It reveals how poor leadership eroded team confidence, increased errors, and damaged the operation’s reputation, offering valuable lessons for divers…