Tipping

[almitywife]

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!

but... i dont dive with a dm

edit: and why would "nobody be in sight"????? if im solo (which i do dive) ive got backup otherwise i have my buddy

 

[jeter]

Now, just a pet peeve of mine here. Tipping is a custom in quite a few countries, one of them being the U.S. Now I know, we are your uncultured, bastard stepchild, but we do have customs, and that is one of them.

So, just like anyplace else you may travel, you should respect the customs of that society.

Just a little tip for you there.

Now, as for the UK's service charge which is what, ten to 15 percent? Would you rather have the option of giving the person who serves you ten to 15 percent or more or less based upon the level and quality of service they provided or be forced into paying that whether they did a good job or not?

We could debate all day about which way is better.

Very well stated! I prefer the option to tip more or less depending on the quality of the service!

 

[VooDooGasMan]

good point kam It could be a dive accident tey just have to wait until they Know that all your air is gone before they do a search.

 

[jeter]

doubt this will happen


NEVER happens


i expect a dive brief to be part of the paid charter


seriously doubt this will ever happen

Wow, you must dive with some really horrible dive operations. Dive operators are in a service industry! Where is the service?

 

[almitywife]

Wow, you must dive with some really horrible dive operations. Dive operators are in a service industry! Where is the service?

what service is required other than what i paid for (ie, boat, fuel, skipper, tank if necessary and safe trip)

im going for a dive. i have my own gear, i have my own bottle of water, i have my own smarts - just get me to the water, give me a brief (if required) and i will be back in whatever time you tell me to be back in

and no, not horrible dive ops - my last trip was FAB! maybe becasue they recognized the divers skills and then treated them accordingly

 

[jasondcrawford]

Tipping is a show of appreciation of service added.

Then what's the $100 I paid for the charter go towards? Surely some "service" is included in that?

 

[jasondcrawford]

As a captain I could just head straight toward the site full throttle with gear bouncing and spray flying and any diver should be aware of sea conditions, or I could skillfully pilot the vessel in a safe and comfortable way to make the surface journey as enjoyable as possible.

As a guide I might find out what critters or activities you hope to see underwater and lead you to them or point them out when they happen. After the dive I might break out the books and better show you the unique animals we saw on our dive, or that you could see next time now that you know better what to look for.

If you can't afford the tip, don't do the trip!

There is a difference between "going above and beyond" and just doing your job well. If you go full throttle and make me sea-sick -- you won't have any customers. I'm in the consulting profession. When I put in 80 hour weeks to get a report done well, I don't expect a tip -- I expect more clients. My wage should be (and is) determined by the market and by negotiating with my employer. Why should my clients "tip" me for doing what they paid me to do?

 

[Gombessa]

There is a difference between "going above and beyond" and just doing your job well. If you go full throttle and make me sea-sick -- you won't have any customers. I'm in the consulting profession. When I put in 80 hour weeks to get a report done well, I don't expect a tip -- I expect more clients. My wage should be (and is) determined by the market and by negotiating with my employer. Why should my clients "tip" me for doing what they paid me to do?

Well, for one you aren't in an industry or a profession where tipping is done, so it's not a really valid comparison. Does your client tip you personally if you do "go above and beyond?" In my experience, they may offer to hire you, but that's not really the same thing

 

[wardric]

ahem!

unless of course the DM is a indigenous person from where you are diving (ie, a local and not an american), then i would tip or give them a gift (as for some customs, tipping is offensive)

if the dm is an american i revert to RJP's post above

as long as you tip canadian DMs

 

[almitywife]

..... 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.

bingo!

i think back to our trip to Yap/Micronesia (another great trip)

if allowed, the dive crew would get your gear, set it up blah blah blah - all you had to do was wake up, brekkie, brush your teeth and step onto the boat. they would even put your fins on if you wanted and washed your gear at the end of the dive. heck, i saw people from the wetpixel group have a porter go to their room each morning and carry their camera down to the boat.

we explained (nicely) to the crew 1st day (we never saw such a thing before, had over a dozen dive trips, so i was shocked to see a guy walking out of the storeroom with my gear) that we will be responsible for our own gear and they were not to touch my gear (nicely).

now - of these 2 types of divers, who received a standard of service above and beyond that would warrant an expectation of tipping???

i do not understand for the life of me why i would be expected to tip for this situation