In this powerful episode, David Burnell shares a grueling personal story from his time at Dive Rescue International Instructor School in Fort Collins, Colorado—a seven-day crucible designed to create elite instructors for 9-1-1 rescue diving in the most hazardous environments on earth: swift water, under ice, and deep open water.

Through punishing physical demands, complex problem-solving under pressure, and team evolutions where failure carried real consequences, David witnessed firsthand how the mind often gives up before the body—and how those moments reveal who has the will to persevere.

This is a raw, inside look at how failure can become the ultimate training tool, from swimming endless laps and treading water with 25-pound weight belts to devising strategies under fatigue and watching experienced divers quit on Day One.

You’ll learn:

* Why failure can clarify your mission and filter out distractions

* How pressure reveals both weakness and hidden strength

* The essential role of confidence, control, and teamwork under stress

* How to “deal with it” and adapt when plans fall apart

This is more than a diving story—it’s a lesson for every high-stakes mission, whether in the water, combat, or life.

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Get full access to Echo Valor: Stories of Service, Sacrifice & the Human Spirit at echovalor.substack.com/subscribe