I suspect being a DM in the water is like being an ER doc. Things can and do go wrong through no conceivable fault of the DM. If there is a bad outcome, people are looking for someone to blame, and people also expect to be made whole . . . even if the incident and bad outcome were entirely the fault of the victim. Nobody in our society is responsible for what happens to them any more (sigh). At that point, everybody within shotgun range gets sued.
I'd like to believe that the majority of juries are rational and do not give big awards to plaintiffs with thin cases. But whether or not that is true, it is a huge PITA to get sued, and it is very, very painful and emotionally scarring. It is also extremely expensive, in money AND time.
Thank goodness we have DMs and scuba instructors who are willing to assume the risk -- or else how would most of us ever have learned to dive in the first place?
I'd like to believe that the majority of juries are rational and do not give big awards to plaintiffs with thin cases. But whether or not that is true, it is a huge PITA to get sued, and it is very, very painful and emotionally scarring. It is also extremely expensive, in money AND time.
Thank goodness we have DMs and scuba instructors who are willing to assume the risk -- or else how would most of us ever have learned to dive in the first place?
