Here's the scene.

Ramsey: Bravo, Hunter.

Hunter: Sir?

Ramsey: You knew to shut up and enjoy the view. Most eggheads want to talk it away. Your stock just went up a couple of points.

Hunter: Thank you, sir.

Ramsey: Allow me to give you a tiny bit of advise. If you want your own boat someday, the very worst thing you can do is worry about yourself or try to impress me. I can't stand save-asses and I won't abide kiss-asses. You keep your priorities straight, your mission, and your men.

Captain Ramsey drives the dialog. He fills the scene with his words. Hunter utters a word or two in response — but, only as required, not a word more.

What's the point of this scene of apparent levity? It establishes that Hunter does not talk for the sake of hearing himself talk.

So, later, when he speaks up about floating the radio buoy, Ramsey should appreciate that it's not for nothing. Hunter further defends, at that point, that the entire purpose for the order of orders, from captain to executive office ("XO") to Chief of the Boat ("Diving officer") to Chief of the Watch, is so that, if there is disagreement, the orders do not go through.

Very clearly, Hunter was not worried about himself, or trying to impress Ramsey. He indeed kept his priorities straight, the mission, and the men. He did everything he was advised to do, and that empowers we the audience to avoid the moral ambiguity and allow for Ramsey (and his inner circle of kiss-asses) to emerge as the antagonists (the bad guys) of the plot.