What would your response be if someone asked you to recover something

[fjpatrum]

Workman's safety if I understand correctly.

There are quite strict rules WRT HES in our place of the world. Initially, it seems ridiculous that simple jobs should require a professional diver's cert, but due to the large grey area, the rules are simple: If you're hired to do a job underwater (I believe, but am not sure, that DMs and instructors fall into a different category and that their DM/instructor certs are sufficient) you have to be a professional diver with the required qualifications. Seems unnecessarily strict, but protects the life and health of those who dive for a living. I can live with that.

See, to me it's a favor until the money changes hands. If there was no agreement to payment beforehand, then there's no "hiring for a job". Perhaps skirting the grey area a little too much for some people's perception. that said, if I wasn't expecting payment and agreeing up front to a payment I probably wouldn't accept one. I would accept a free drink or dinner, though.