Diving Deep into Diving Safety: The death of Linnea Mills through a lens of HF and System Safety

Diving is often thought of as a safe sport, but true safety goes beyond just avoiding accidents. It involves building barriers, defenses, and a culture that promotes learning from mistakes. The tragic death of Linnea Mills highlights how multiple issues—like inexperienced instructors and mismatched equipment—can accumulate and lead to deadly outcomes. The diving community can learn from other high-risk industries by embracing open communication and thorough debriefing to minimize accidents. By focusing on teamwork, preparation, and creating a safe culture, divers can enhance safety and resilience underwater.