Posted by TDI_2 on July 18, 2002 at 13:46:52:
In Reply to: I know I am going to get slamed….but. posted by rm on July 18, 2002 at 13:24:09:
Maybe back in the Civil War, an Army officer could shoot a deserter. But not anymore today.
Now, it would require a general court martial, with a review board, and probably two Senators and even The President to approve a capital punishment execution in the military.
Every divemaster on every dive boat that I have been on has always looked up to the boat captain as a higher authority. I believe that the divemaster is responsible to the captain for the safety of the divers.
Virtually everyone on this Earth, including the Coast Guard, is going to hold the captain responsible and will consider him to be in charge, at all times.
And in the USA on our coastal waters, it is the Coast Guard that is the closest thing to God. Unless you are unlucky enough to be rammed from below by a blue water U.S. Navy submarine!