Other activities that require risk management (such as aviation) study accident reports to determine causes and to keep such events from occuring again.
Might I suggest reading the DAN Accident reports?
Also, the Accidents and Incidents Forum here on Scubaboard will give you an idea what can go wrong and how to prevent it.
"Learn fron the mistakes of others; you'll not live long enough to make them all yourself..."
JM sage advice. I'm in aviation and I have to agree read as much about other's experiences to learn how recognise, diagnose and execute a survival stratagy.
Blender I like you went on a similar quest a little while ago. I now frequent the cave diving/tech area's you'll glean lots of good stuff here.
The book
Diver Down looks at about 30 case studies of diver fatalities. Excellent intro because it discusses the most regular failure types/modes, how they were handled or mishandled. Aimed at the intro level diver. But it will highlight what failures to expect, why etc. Get it from ABE books or Amazon online.
In aviation pilots on larger aircraft have a systems knowledge that is encyclopedic, truly amazing. This is because when they have a failure the can anticipate what will go wrong (or possibly go wrong). If it was your car the would know every nut and bolt, it's effect and all electrical looms etc. OK MY POINT. Learns much about your gear as possible. Regulators and breathing systems. To this end
Vance Harlow's SCUBA Regulator Maintenance and Repair$25 of the best dollars I ever spent, buy it online from Airspeed press. If you didn't know how your gear worked and failed,and how to fix it you will after reading his manual.
I would recommend the GUE manuals as well having read some of them. I don't dive DIR (I like the concept) but I would also do some research on DIR diving and hang in the tech forms, it won't be wasted.
Good luck