matts1w:This is just my opinion, but any professional, let alone any human being, with training to potentially help someone dying who stands around doing zero out of fear of being sued is a sad individual. I just cannot imagine anyone sheepishly hiding behind other people on the deck of a boat and doing nothing while someone loses a father, mother, child, wife, husband, whatever. I would never be able to look at myself in the mirror again as it seems the a major part of becoming a rescue/divemaster is to train oneself to be there for those who need help. If so afraid of getting sued why would you even accept the certification in the first place?
For some reason the SEINFELD episode when George shoves the old woman, children, and clown to escape the kitchen fire comes to mind.
Yup, great episode!
I really don't think that this is the issue here... not helping in a situation where you knew someone was in danger because you were in fear of a lawsuit. Good Samaritan laws do cover that, by the way, at least in medicine and probably in other situations as well. But the point is well taken that any good person shouldn't think twice and help to the best of their ability in such a situation. The fear of lawsuits is probably overblown in most people's mind.
I think that the main point (which was my concern when I started this thread) was whether having a DM certification would make you liable for problems that you knew nothing about. It seems (from Alex's answer, anyway) that the answer to that question is no.
I don't think that you have an obligation to work as a divemaster just because you can, in a non-emergency situation (e.g. the boat captain asks you to "help out" an underqualified diver). But on the other hand, if you DO see a potential or active problem, you should respond- divemaster or not!