The Lost Fin: A Lesson in Situation Awareness

Awareness of surroundings is crucial for divers. A student’s impulsive decision to chase a lost fin during a training dive led to a chaotic situation. Both the student and instructor became fixated on the task at hand, which resulted in overlooking safety considerations. This incident highlights the importance of structured debriefing to understand decision-making and improve situation awareness. By encouraging open discussions about actions taken under pressure, divers can better prepare for future challenges underwater.