B737-800
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Diverted; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
During cruise at FL360 the First Officer and I felt a pressurization change in our ears. We checked the overhead pressurization panel and saw that the cabin climb indicator was indicating a rapidly climbing cabin. The cabin altitude indicator was also increasing. We donned our oxygen masks and I elected to follow the Rapid Depressurization Checklist in the QRH. We [requested priority handling] and were cleared to descend. We descended to 10;000 ft. then completed the remaining normal procedures checklist before diverting to ZZZ. One major factor in the event was crew communication in the cockpit. With the speakers on and the breathing noises carrying over the interphone we had to repeat ourselves numerous times increased the workload of the event. Reading the checklist and verifying the actions combined with ATC instructions; the Flight Attendant briefing and announcements to the passengers proved to be challenging. Another factor was the decision to go with the checklist that I felt was the safest for the passengers and crew. I felt that taking any extra time to look at the other checklists that may apply would be time consuming and compromise our margin of safety. [I suggest] reviewing and using oxygen masks in the simulator more.
B737 Captain reported a cabin pressure malfunction which caused them to initiate an immediate descent and divert to a precautionary landing.