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The remains of 4 Italian divers killed in a Maldives cave dive have been repatriated - Toronto Star

thestar.com

Four elite divers dead in a Maldives underwater cave reveals the brutal calculus of risk homeostasis — the more skilled you are, the deeper into danger you're willing to go.

Risk Homeostasis TheoryDunning-Kruger EffectNormalization of Deviance
The remains of 4 Italian divers killed in a Maldives cave dive have been repatriated - Toronto Star

Theory Briefing

  • Four Italian divers perished deep inside an underwater cave in the Maldives, illustrating how expert skill can paradoxically invite greater fatal risk.
  • Risk homeostasis theory suggests that as divers gain confidence and capability, they unconsciously offset safety gains by accepting more extreme challenges.
  • The tragedy echoes the 'expert blind spot' — seasoned professionals may underestimate novel hazards precisely because past success breeds overconfidence.