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Mystery of Maldives divers killed in 'Shark Cave' may have been solved - Metro

metro.co.uk

The deadly Maldives "Shark Cave" tragedy is a masterclass in how humans systematically underestimate risk in novel, high-stakes environments — and pay the ultimate price.

Risk Homeostasis TheorySituational AwarenessCognitive OverloadDunning-Kruger Effect
Mystery of Maldives divers killed in 'Shark Cave' may have been solved - Metro

Theory Briefing

  • Five tourists died in a pitch-black Maldives cave, a disaster Finnish diving experts now believe they can finally explain.
  • The cave's darkness and disorientation likely triggered cognitive overload, stripping divers of rational decision-making when it mattered most.
  • The case illustrates how risk homeostasis fails underwater — familiarity with diving can paradoxically increase exposure to fatal hazards.