I have been an several boats and they do things differently. Some check in a shop and just send to a boat. Others own the boat and the process is different. Limitations of liability vary in diffferent places. Some say while on the boat the operator is liable,,,, other areas say from departure to arrival the operator is liable. For the first the boat is a taxi. For the second as some iluded, the boat is run buy the scuba police. Some places the pasenger contracts with the operator others the shop contracts for the operator whre the responsibilities are deliniated.