Question about tipping on SCUBA trips.

[carrielsal]

I don't think many leave a tip at McDonolds and if that is a good comparison to the dive boat I don't see where a tip is required.

 

[Joanna.Cordry]

One more thing to consider:
Not only do DMs typically do work "behind the scenes" to help ensure that you have a safe/fun dive, but they also PAY for the honor in the form of liability insurance. That can be pretty costly.

I think I get the McDonald's comparison, but the difference is that most people who work at McDonalds aren't quite as highly trained as DMs (and if they are, they probably didn't have to pay for their training), aren't legally responsible for taking care of you if you hurl yourself over the counter into the vat of french fry grease, and they make a salary.

 

[leapfrog]

... and they make a salary.

OK, can you get me the number of "Talent Management" at McDonald's real quick?

 

[Pearldiver07]

I don't think many leave a tip at McDonolds and if that is a good comparison to the dive boat I don't see where a tip is required.

And it's NOT a good comparison. Any DM working a boat does a heck of a lot more than a counter person at McDonalds.

For one, many (if not most) DM's work for little more than tips, or tips alone.

I certainly hope you're new to diving, or that you plan on not returning to use the same boats twice.

As my father always said about tipping at a restaurant: "If you're too cheap to pay AND tip, you shouldn't go."

 

[Lake Travis Scuba]

So Robert what is a good cigar? Just in case we need to bribe a certain captain.

I dove the Clipper this past weekend, and I ended up tipping 20%+. I would say at least 20% to the DMs or crew, especially if they help you with your gear. The DMs on Diver 1 loaded all of the tanks and gear on the boat, and they assisted the divers getting in & out of their gear.

Hand rolled Cubans top the list, of course, and can be ordered from Havana Club in Grand Cayman, but Greycliff or Avo are good seconds.

 

[theduckguru]

One more thing to consider:
Not only do DMs typically do work "behind the scenes" to help ensure that you have a safe/fun dive, but they also PAY for the honor in the form of liability insurance. That can be pretty costly.

I think I get the McDonald's comparison, but the difference is that most people who work at McDonalds aren't quite as highly trained as DMs (and if they are, they probably didn't have to pay for their training), aren't legally responsible for taking care of you if you hurl yourself over the counter into the vat of french fry grease, and they make a salary.

Please give some examples of behind the scences.

On a recent multi day dive booking, the DM was too busy to give me attention the day before the dive other than obtain the release and collect money as he was the lone clerk in the store and servicing regulators.

On the day of the dives, the crew didn't assist anyone load or organize any equipment and really just stood around and shooting the crap. Other than a very short breifing, the DM was busy serving various level students who had employed him for advance check outs.

And after the dives, there were no post dive briefings and no service from the crew as they were engaged in cleaning the boat.

How much should I have left for what I saw as a self serve experiance?

I also didn't see any divers tipping the DM on this boat. Maybe the feeling was mutual.

 

[PVille Diver]

I did not mean to stir up a hornets nest here, I should have clarified by saying "tipping good or outstanding service", there will always be times when you get bad service for various reasons.

Thanks everyone for the great information!

 

[Joanna.Cordry]

Please give some examples of behind the scences.

I was thinking about: maintaining current cpr certification; taking care of and organizing rental equipment; filling and hauling tanks; completing paperwork (especially if there is an incident - any incident); learning enough about the area to answer specific questions; scouting out & planning dives that will be of interest to the divers, and ensuring that those dives are within the experience level of all divers (which involves sizing people up pretty quickly); helping new divers w/ equipment, weighting, procedures, etc.; checking divers off and back on the boat & then following up later to make sure they don't have symptoms of DCS; cleaning/preparing the boat; tying into the U-bolt if necessary and checking out conditions pre-dive; and generally being responsible for the safety of the divers on the boat (the boat captain's duty is to the boat, as I understand it). The boat trips I've been on, the DMs have done all or some of those things. I've even had DMs fix lunch for us...

I personally have had really good service from DMs all over the world, and that's what I was speaking to. Once or twice, what I was most grateful for was that they helped less experienced divers get in the water reasonably quickly and kept them from drowning. And, even if they didn't do much for me, personally, other than give the briefing and answer any questions I had, I was glad they were there "just in case" (that seems to be more true on boats with a large number of divers, which I now avoid like the plague). Also, I was glad they were there - not sure my dives, in a place I didn't know, would be as good if I didn't get a briefing & was just in a group of strangers of varying levels all told to hop off the boat and go explore.

But that's just me. It sounds like your experience was quite different, and I'm hoping, the exception to the rule.

 

[Lake Travis Scuba]

I did not mean to stir up a hornets nest here, I should have clarified by saying "tipping good or outstanding service", there will always be times when you get bad service for various reasons.

Thanks everyone for the great information!

Quite the contrary, this is a useful thread and perfect forum for this discussion. This question has been addressed in Scubadiving magazine and the other trade journals throughout the years and it is important that divers, especially new divers, are informed about tipping protocol.

 

[Joanna.Cordry]

Quite the contrary, this is a useful thread and perfect forum for this discussion. .

I agree completely! I hardly ever get on Scubaboard anymore, just because it eats my time. But your question caught my eye.

I always wonder about these things, and rarely think to ask before it's time to be tipping, and then it feels awkward (plus, I may not have brought enough money). I've been on a couple of liveaboards where the management of the company/boat captain/dive shop provided - before the trip - information on what is typically done on that boat regarding tips, and I've always really appreciated it.

Anyone have advice to offer regarding housekeeping in hotels?