🔵💧 Deep Sea Dive
Dive into the deep blue! Explore the currents of our work, surf the successes, and navigate away from the riptides. Let’s chart a clearer course together.
Template Columns
🌊 Set Sail
Identify fresh actions to launch our project into calmer waters.
Base column: Start⚓ Drop Anchor
Highlight practices that are weighing us down and should be halted.
Base column: Stop🐬 Ride the Wave
Keep the smooth currents that are propelling us forward.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
A nautical-themed retrospective that identifies new actions, stops harmful habits, and reinforces what’s working to steer the team toward smoother sailing.
When to use this template
Use when the team needs a clear, focused review of current practices and wants to chart actionable improvements, especially after a sprint or project phase.
How to facilitate
Gather the team in a virtual or physical space and set the oceanic tone by sharing the Deep Sea Dive metaphor
Ask participants to silently write items for each column: Set Sail (new actions), Drop Anchor (things to stop), Ride the Wave (things to continue)
Collect the notes on a shared board, grouping similar ideas under each column
Facilitate a discussion for each column, exploring why items belong there and prioritizing the most impactful actions
Vote on the top items in Set Sail and Drop Anchor to create a concise action plan
Assign owners and due dates for the selected actions, recording them in the team’s tracker
Close the session by reflecting on the overall mood and thanking the team for their contributions
Pro Tips
Use a timer for each silent writing phase to keep energy high
Encourage participants to phrase items as observable behaviors, not judgments
Limit the action list to three high‑impact items to avoid overload
Add a quick visual metaphor, like a sea map, to reinforce the theme
FAQ
What if the team struggles to generate enough items for each column?
Prompt with specific examples, ask each person to write at least one item per column, or use round‑robin sharing to spark ideas.
How do we prevent the action list from becoming too large?
After discussion, use dot voting to select the top two or three items in Set Sail and Drop Anchor, focusing on those with the highest impact.
Can this format work for larger groups?
For groups over 12, split into smaller pods, each completing the board, then merge the results for a consolidated team view.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective