Mastering Panic: Lessons from a Diver's Harrowing Encounter
Explore what my near disaster at 160 feet deep taught me about power of staying calm under pressure. Learn how to manage fear and make sound decisions in any crisis.
This article was originally published in 2013, and has been republished in 2025.
The allure of diving is undeniable—warm, crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and the gentle pull of ocean currents. It's a serene escape, a world apart from the chaos above. But even in this underwater paradise, danger can strike unexpectedly. I learned this lesson firsthand when I found myself wedged inside a one-meter-wide steel tube, 160 feet below the surface. Let me take you on that journey—and share what it taught me about the art of staying calm under pressure.
A Routine Dive Turns into an Adventure
It was a perfect day in Pensacola, Florida. My dive buddies and I had already completed a couple of dives and were gearing up for one last adventure before lunch: lobster hunting around an old oil rig foundation. The plan was simple—splash in, explore, and hopefully snag some lobsters for a fresh meal.
Equipped with my trusty rebreather (a device that recycles exhaled air for extended dives), I ventured deeper than my group, drawn by curiosity and confidence in my skill and gear. Soon, I stumbled upon one of the rig’s steel foundation tubes. Shining my dive light into its shadowy depths, I caught the glint of dozens of tiny eyes staring back at me—lobsters! Jackpot! Not only did I see lunch, but I also envisioned earning some serious bragging rights.
The Trap is Set
Excited by the prospect of fresh seafood, I followed my instincts—and my stomach—into the tube. But lobsters are craftier than they look. Each time I reached for one, they darted further into the shaft. Before I knew it, I was seven feet deep inside the steel pipe. That’s when reality hit: I was stuck.
The inside of the tube wasn’t smooth; it was lined with jagged coral and spiny sea creatures that made every movement painful and precarious. For those unfamiliar with commercial diving, entering enclosed spaces underwater is considered extremely hazardous—and here I was doing it for free, without backup or proper planning.
Here I am, 7 feet inside this pipe, lobsters staring at me, stuck.
The Power of Staying Calm
In moments like these, panic is an easy trap to fall into. The cold, dark confines of the steel tube could have sent my mind spiraling into fear and desperation. But here’s the thing: panic doesn’t solve problems; it creates them. Over the years, I’ve trained myself to override that initial surge of fear by focusing on what needs to be done.
My thought process went something like this:
Am I breathing? Yes—my rebreather was functioning perfectly.
Do I have enough air? Yes—75 minutes' worth.
What’s my next action? Get out of this tube.
This mindset boils down to two critical practices:
Stop, Think, Act: Instead of reacting impulsively, pause to assess your situation and plan your next move.
Fear Management: Acknowledge your fear but set it aside temporarily to focus on the task at hand.
The Escape
With these principles guiding me, I began inching backward out of the tube. It wasn’t easy—every movement meant breaking coral and enduring sharp pokes from sea urchins—but I refused to let discomfort or fear distract me from my goal. Five minutes later (though it felt like an eternity), I emerged from the tube—scratched, sore, but safe.
Of course, my ordeal wasn’t over yet; decompression stops were required to safely ascend from 160 feet. But once back on the boat, relief washed over me as we laughed about my misadventure and mourned the lobsters that got away.
Lessons for Life Above Water
While most people won’t find themselves trapped in an underwater steel pipe, we all face situations where fear threatens to overwhelm us—whether it’s public speaking, a high-stakes presentation at work, or navigating personal crises. Interestingly, studies show that more people fear public speaking than death itself—a statistic that underscores how paralyzing fear can be.
Here’s what my experience taught me about managing fear:
Practice Emotional Regulation: Start small by tackling everyday fears—like speaking up in meetings or trying something outside your comfort zone.
Focus on What You Can Control: Identify actionable steps instead of fixating on worst-case scenarios.
Defer Fear: Allow yourself to feel scared after you’ve handled the situation—not during.
A Final Thought
Diving has often been described as one of the most dangerous sports in the world—a realm where nature and human limitations collide unpredictably. But whether underwater or on land, success often hinges on your ability to remain calm under pressure.
So remember: bring your towel (a nod to Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and don’t panic. Whether you’re chasing lobsters or facing life’s challenges head-on, staying composed is your greatest asset.
As famed diver Robert Kurson wrote in Shadow Divers,
“Deep-shipwreck diving is among the world's most dangerous sports. Few other endeavors exist in which nature, biology, equipment, instinct and object conspire—without warning and from all directions—to so completely attack a man's mind and disassemble his spirit.”
But with preparation and presence of mind, you can overcome even the most daunting obstacles—and emerge stronger for it.