Calling the Dive: How to Speak Up and Support It

Every diver has the right—and the responsibility—to call a dive. Whether it’s due to stress, gear issues, confusion, discomfort, or just a bad feeling, speaking up early prevents problems from escalating. But in reality, calling a dive can feel awkward—especially when you’re worried about disappointing a buddy or looking inexperienced.

Strong teams normalize it.

What “Calling the Dive” Means

Calling the dive simply means ending the dive early, for any reason. It can happen:

• Before entering the water (e.g., gear malfunction, poor conditions)
• During descent (e.g., equalization issues, anxiety)
• At depth (e.g., miscommunication, low gas, just not feeling right)
• Mid-ascent or at the safety stop (e.g., confusion, lost buddy, lost reference)

The key is that no justification is needed. “I don’t feel good about this” is enough.

Why People Hesitate to Call a Dive

• Don’t want to disappoint the team
• Embarrassed about anxiety or discomfort
• Assume it’s “just them” struggling
• Think others are better equipped to push through
• Feel social or peer pressure to continue

These are normal feelings—but they must be overridden by a team-first mindset. Pushing through discomfort has caused countless diving incidents. Calling the dive shows maturity, not weakness.

Call Early, Not Late

Most dives that go wrong don’t turn bad all at once—they degrade in small steps. If something feels off, call the dive early while you still have full control, gas reserves, and team cohesion. You can always revisit the situation during the debrief and dive again if appropriate.

Trust the Feeling That Something's Off

Your brain is wired to detect patterns—and when something feels “off,” it often is. That gut feeling might come from noticing changes in current, subtle teammate stress, or something unfamiliar. Even if you can’t explain it, listen to it. The dive will always be there another day.

How to Normalize It

To make it easier to call a dive, you need a team culture that supports it:

• Say during the briefing: “Anyone can call the dive at any time, for any reason.”
• Mean it—no eye-rolls, no second-guessing
• Use positive reinforcement: “Thanks for calling it when you did.”
• Don’t ask for justification in the moment. Debrief afterward.

This kind of psychological safety is a hallmark of effective dive teams—and it prevents accidents before they start.

How to Call the Dive

• Get your team’s attention: hand signal, light flash, or physical contact
• Signal: “Something’s wrong”, then “Up” (thumb signal)
• Confirm acknowledgment from teammates
• Ascend together—don’t separate unless absolutely necessary

If calling the dive before entering the water, state your reason if comfortable—or just say, “I’m not diving today.” That should be enough.

Supporting a Teammate Who Calls the Dive

• Acknowledge the signal immediately
• Don’t ask why underwater—just support the ascent or exit
• After the dive, be encouraging: “Good call,” or “Thanks for speaking up.”
• Don’t joke about it unless they do first

The goal is to remove the emotional cost of ending a dive early. It builds team trust—and ensures people feel safe speaking up next time.

Debrief Without Judgment

If someone calls a dive, don’t treat the debrief like an interrogation. Instead, ask open-ended questions like, “Was there anything we could’ve done differently?” or “Anything that triggered that feeling?” The goal is to learn—not assign blame.

A Personal Note

In my first 50 dives, I called three dives—and nearly called a fourth—because my mind or body just wasn’t in it. And you know what? Not once did a dive buddy get upset. We simply adjusted, talked about it, and dove together again later. That’s exactly how it should be.

The first time, I had planned a two-tank dive at Three Oaks. After the first dive, I just didn’t feel right—no major issue, just a subtle feeling that I was done for the day. I told my buddy, and we called it.

The second was at Pearl Lake, where my buddy was in doubles with an extra AL80 slung. The plan was for me to exit and rejoin him after a tank swap, but once I hit turn pressure, I signaled the dive was over for me. No drama—we surfaced as planned.

The third time, I didn’t even make it to the site. I woke up with a slight sinus and ear issue and decided to cancel before we got in the car. Again, zero resistance from my teammate.

And the near-call? That was on the fourth day of GUE Fundamentals. I was mentally and physically exhausted after three days of intense work and seriously debated stopping. I talked with my instructor, who made it clear it was my decision, and she’d support whatever I chose. I decided to continue—and I’m glad I did—but I never felt pressure to push through.

If your dive buddies don’t respond that way when you need to call a dive, it might be time to find new ones.

Human Factors Perspective

According to The Human Diver, divers often suppress their concerns to maintain group cohesion or avoid embarrassment. But that silence is a red flag. By creating an environment where concerns can be raised without fear, you reduce the risk of incidents caused by unspoken issues, fatigue, or confusion.