What responsibility does a buddy actually have legally? The boat captain and crew i can see but i as a buddy am not forcing you into the water. Dont know how everyone else feels but i have the mentality that im diving solo with a buddy. I dont expect rescue. We practice and train at the end of most dives and short of catastrophic gas loss or major health issue theres no reason i shouldn’t be able to save my own butt. Not that i wont assist. Have on several occasions. I dont agree with the buddy system. Theres no rescue like self rescue. Theres actually 2 good threads on CDF that talk about buddy edicate and a recent fatality were the buddy is being blamed.. ...after they did 3 230 ft dives shooting video. ... ....ill stack 2 deep decos in a day but not 3. ..thats kinda crazy ....would gross negligence really matter at that point?