Post-Incident Debriefing:
Learning Without Blame
Most divers pack up and go home after a diveâeven if something went wrong. But debriefing is one of the most powerful ways to improve safety, prevent repeat mistakes, and build stronger dive teams.
Whether itâs a missed signal, a separation, or a full-blown emergency, the goal isnât to assign blameâitâs to learn what happened and why, so the next dive is safer.
What Counts as a âDebriefableâ Event?
Not everything has to be a near-miss or rescue situation. Consider debriefing when:
- A diver turned the dive early
- Someone got cold, nauseated, or cramped
- There was a gear issue or forgotten item
- Team communication broke down
- Someone felt uncomfortable but didnât say anything
- The team executed a rescue or safety stop under stress
Even if you donât debrief every dive, you should debrief every time the plan doesnât go as expected.
Psychological Safety First
A good debrief only works when people feel safe sharing honestly. That means:
- No sarcasm, no blame
- No lectures about how it âshouldâveâ been done
- No one gets singled out for being âthe problemâ
- Questions are open, not leading
- Everyoneâincluding the most experienced diverâgets asked what they could do better
This creates space for real learning, not just defensiveness.
Learn more about Psychological Safety
Use the DEBRiEF Model
The DEBRiEF model, created by The Human Diver, is a proven framework for incident reflection in high-risk environments like diving, aviation, and healthcare. Itâs part of a broader set of concepts known as Human Factors in Diving, which aim to improve safety through better communication, decision-making, and team awareness.
Each letter helps structure the conversation without judgment:
D â Describe
What happened? Just the factsâno opinions yet.
E â Emotions
How did you feel during or after the dive? Were you stressed, calm, confused?
B â Behaviors
What did you observe others doing or not doing? What actions stood out?
R â Results
What were the outcomesâgood or bad? Did anything unexpected happen?
i â Interpretations
Why do you think this happened? (Only if people feel safe enough to reflect.)
E â Explore Alternatives
What else could we have done? What options were missed?
F â Future Changes
What will we do differently next time? What will we carry forward?
You donât need to use the acronym out loudâjust let it guide the conversation. Some teams write it on a whiteboard or wetnotes card to stay focused.
Common Reasons Divers Skip Debriefs âŠand Why Thatâs a Problem
- âNothing went wrong.â
Not trueâsomeone might still be unclear, cold, or shaken but didnât say anything. - âWe were tired.â
A 30-second debrief is better than silence. It can catch problems early. - âDidnât want to sound critical.â
Debriefs arenât blame sessions. Theyâre for mutual improvement.
Skipping the debrief means missing the one chance you have to reflect while everything is fresh. And that means the next dive might include the same issuesâagain.
When Not to Debrief (Yet)
If someone is shaken, injured, or emotionally overwhelmed, donât force a debrief on the spot.
Instead say:
âLetâs focus on recovery first. We can talk when everyoneâs ready.â
This models psychological safety by showing respect for emotional readiness and creating a better space for reflection later.
How to Start a Debrief if No One Else Does
If youâre diving with a quiet group or casual buddies, itâs easy to assume no one wants to talkâbut someone has to go first. Try these low-pressure openers:
- âAnything you want to change or improve next time?â
- âDid anything feel off to you?â
- âIâm trying to improve my positioningâdid I drift at all?â
- âAnything we want to tighten up before the next dive?â
These questions are neutral, inclusive, and non-judgmental. They create space for honest feedback and reflection without calling anyone out.
Debriefing Without an Incident
Debriefing isnât just for emergenciesâitâs also a way to learn and grow even when everything went fine.
Ask your team:
- âWhat worked well today?â
- âDid anything feel off or unclear?â
- âAnything we want to change next time?â
This builds a habit of reflection and communication, not just critique. Over time, it helps your team get tighter, more aware, and better prepared.
Final Thought
Diving is a technical skill. But team safety is a human skill.
The best divers Iâve met werenât the ones who never made mistakesâthey were the ones who took time to reflect, own their role in the outcome, and ask, âHow can we do better next time?â
DEBRiEF helps you do exactly that.