Tipping

[scarefaceDM]

Allmighty...

On a charter you are provided with a good breifing. True.

Where I come from we help the divers to get in the water. Handing them what they need. making sure they are squared away assist them. Making sure there air is turned on and send them off.

Once dive is over...we grab there fins - mask - camera or what ever...so they can safley climb back in the boat via the ladder. Assist them to there seats and hook them in so they do not fall incase waves hit etc. Then we provide them - if they need a towel to wipe there faces with. and hand them some water. Hand them there fresh tank and ask if they need a hand switching
tanks around. Grab the empty tank and stow it. Depends on the weather..we will provid a warm drink - hot chocolate or some chicken both. Most of what is done is not part of the charter price...

As for fixing gear..funny guess you are very gear savvy...I have had to fix regs, change poped o rings on tanks in water, broken fins, mask straps,and so on to you fine folks funny....guess it never happens

 

[scarefaceDM]

Yes a good customer service should be part of the charter price...regardless

From a personal stand point..I do not ever expect a tip. Nor do I suck up to clients to get a tip... I treat folks the way I want to be treated. and yeah I get tips..funny.

Personnaly I do not feel obliged by any means to tip anyone. I do it because I got a little extra service.

and if the hand goes out expecting a tip...I do not tip.

...yeah and thanks mom...

when someone goes beyond the call of duty...it is up to the person being served...regardless of what they paid...

 

[Gentleman-pirate]

Well, I travel a bunch. all over the southern hemisphere. I wouldn't look to the UK for anything that has to with just about everything.

Tipping is done when someone gives you service that is over and beyond normal service. Tipping should never be required or expected. I think that leads to overall poor service. For great service a person will receive a great tip from me and I will in all likeliness get great service the next time I use them.

Being in the service business isn't easy. Any service business. I will always tip a wage maker that gives great service.

Ask yourself if you would like to pay 25% more for diving on a boat where the only control for good service is complaining to the owner.

----------kevin--------

 

[whoji]

Well, I travel a bunch. all over the southern hemisphere. I wouldn't look to the UK for anything that has to with just about everything.

----------kevin--------

May be true but at least we know we are in the NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Youve just made my day!!!

 

[almitywife]

.....help the divers to get in the water. Handing them what they need. making sure they are squared away assist them. Making sure there air is turned on and send them off.

Once dive is over...we grab there fins - mask - camera or what ever...so they can safley climb back in the boat via the ladder. Assist them to there seats and hook them in so they do not fall incase waves hit etc. Then we provide them - if they need a towel to wipe there faces with. and hand them some water. Hand them there fresh tank and ask if they need a hand switching tanks around. Grab the empty tank and stow it. Depends on the weather..we will provid a warm drink - hot chocolate or some chicken both. Most of what is done is not part of the charter price.........

I think back to my christmas dive trip...... managed to get over 20 dives in

not once did someone set up my gear, hand me a tank, change tanks nor stow the empty, turn my air on or got me into or out of the water, change an o ring (which i did for someone else once) nor did they remove the valve inner so i could change my tank over to din, put my fins ons, hand me a bottle of water or towel, assist me into my seat or wipe my brow - for me that is just way too much attention and you are in my face

maybe im just more independant than most divers

 

[Kamchatka]

Wow. Really kewl thread. Learning a lot here. But one question (in TWO parts) comes to mind. What do the SB'ers here consider to be included in the charter fee and what actions, service, or ?, above and beyond the charter price, warrant a tip? Should the presence of a divemaster/mate/helper/etc. justify a tip? Should clueless or semi-clueless newbies, photogs, tech divers with swings or weak old people needingf help reboarding (for example) tip more? Should we ALL tip knowing that DMs may save our lives while diving? Curious minds want to know. (Any chance responders could reply with specifics to each of these first two questions?)

 

[scarefaceDM]

well maybe you should have asked for a refund or a tip for helping yourself...

and if you feel somone is in your face..think twice. A good service person any where should ask the client if they need a hand..it is courtesy in my book. You have the right to refuse any service...I ask they say no thanks - no big deal..but it was asked.

And on the boats I worked - it is part of the great customer service..I get any lip or bad attitude...you get the same courtesy as everyone else...

yes you seem very independant..as should all divers be which is not a bad thing either...but nothing wrong with a helping hand..creats for a nice atmosphere on a dive boat when all are getting along...

cheers

 

[Gombessa]

for me that is just way too much attention and you are in my face

maybe im just more independant than most divers

I think you're also a lot more experienced than most divers. The more comfortable you are with your stuff, the more aware you are of how you like it set up. Beginner or vacation divers probably feel more comfortable relying on someone experienced to help them setup or double-check that they've gotten things right.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

Funny thing I Have always been treated great, shop, charter, captain, divemasters, Some of these things I have seen on Every dive.

An Older couple A few days ago from Edmondton canada, new divers, She had a problem get down from the surface, I assissted her to about 7or8' so we could get to our 80' drift together, I assisited in other area also with poorly skilled divers.

The first time with this divemaster He could see I was skilled, Not Once after we started the drift did he tell me to stay closer, ther were times when he could see me but no signal contact, Me and My wife seen so much more when we ended. on the saftey stop I was sucking down my wife tank, From all the chasing Of the turtles and groupers, baracudas, Plus the fact every time I came over the reef I did like 3 flips Its a riot at a good drift.

My Point is I can make a charter just rock, cause of the way I treat the dive staff, cause yes the dive crew are not much help with cheap divers. I always give them hope that the rest will be grateful for there help.

I'm sorry I have never seen a lazy charter operation yet. Trust me If I do Ill let them Know right away in Public that they need to leave right now Or shut up, But I doubt that will happen on a charter.

 

[Kamchatka]

I think back to my christmas dive trip...... managed to get over 20 dives in

not once did someone set up my gear, hand me a tank, change tanks nor stow the empty, turn my air on or got me into or out of the water, change an o ring (which i did for someone else once) nor did they remove the valve inner so i could change my tank over to din, put my fins ons, hand me a bottle of water or towel, assist me into my seat or wipe my brow - for me that is just way too much attention and you are in my face

maybe im just more independant than most divers

You really sound like you know you're doing. You can set up your own tanks, turn on your own air, get on and off the boat, put your fins on, probably even open your own soda bottle (am I assuming too much here?). Sounds like a good way to be when engaging in a potentially dangerous sport. But, almitywife, riddle me this; Scenario- you're 120'/35M down, "IT" hits the fan, nobody in sight - NOW don't you think that tipping that DM (on a previous trip), now up on the deck of the boat, would've been a good idea, in retrospect?
P.S. I LOVE ScubaBoard!