November 2011    Download the Entire Issue (PDF)

Vol. 26, No. 11   What's this?

Why Divers Panic

Malcolm Gladwell explains in his latest book

from the November, 2011 issue of Undercurrent  

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When a diver finds himself in an adverse situation underwater, he needs to stop and think about what is the best move to take. For example, he draws on his regulator and he gets no air. Does he free ascend? Rush to his buddy? Rise a few feet and try again? Try to breathe air from his BC? Which move he selects depends upon variables, such as his depth, the proximity of his buddy, and whether there is air remaining in his tank.

A well-trained and experienced divers will know just what to do, while someone more novice may be at a loss and panic, perhaps shooting to the service while holding his breath, or even yanking out his regulator when it provides no air (not an uncommon reaction from divers who die).

Most divers who die could save their own bacon if they didn't panic - - or choke. In his recent book, What the Dog Saw, Malcolm Gladwell devotes a chapter to "The Art of Failure: Why Some People Choke and Others Panic." He cites interesting examples of Jana Novotna faltering at Wimbledon, Yankee second baseman Chuck Knoblauch finding himself unable to throw to first base any longer, and golfer Greg Norman freezing up during the 1996 Masters Championship. However, for us scuba divers, the story of Epjimia Morphew in a diving class is indeed instructional. Here is what Morphew told Gladwell about her experience:...