First Boat Dive Coming Up....Newbie Question inside!

[Benign-Chaos]

Thank you everyone. I already have a dry bag that I use while kayaking, so I'll stuff a towel and sweatshirt in that. My mesh bag is big enough that it will hold everything except the BC and wetsuit. Now that I can visualize what I should be doing, I'm good to go. Again, thanks for all the advice.

PS-without opening a can of worms, I am planning on tipping $10/tank. Is that acceptable?

 

[RJP]

PS-without opening a can of worms, I am planning on tipping $10/tank. Is that acceptable?

On behalf of myself and the other crewmembers of the Gypsy Blood, I personally extend an open invitation for you to come dive with us anytime!

:d

But seriously...

Tips should of course be EARNED, and are always at the discretion of the passenger. I never "expect" a tip just for showing up. As a crew member on a dive boat, the main thing that always makes me happy at the end of a trip is a warm smile, a handshake, and a heartfelt "thanks for making today fun and safe, I look forward to coming back and diving with you guys again." Knowing that passengers appreciate what we do is important. If that appreciation also includes a few bucks6, that's nice too. $10/tank seems to be "the going rate" for good service in places/cultures where tipping is standard practice. Note that (almost universally) tips are shared equally among the crew, so if there is no "tip jar" handing a tip to one crew member will get to all. Accordingly, if you did want to give something extra to an individual. Be sure to say here's $X for everyone and $Y as a little something extra for you.

 

[Jon_R]

$5-$10 per tank seems to be the standard in the East Coast FL area. I am not sure on the west coast. If the boat ride is so long being the gulf the boat can't turn 2 trips in a day I would lean more to the higher amount. Assuming I was treated well.

 

[victorzamora]

As has been said, don't take that on the boat. However, what hasn't been said is another option instead of a mesh bag, like if you don't have one and it's super short notice (or too cheap). I have two other options: 1) any soft, folding bag will work. Mesh will just last longer. I had a 25 year old duffle bag my parents were about to throw away and made that my bag. My wife has a nice Oceanic mesh bag. They do the same job, but my gear has to be more dry before it goes up. Another option is what I call the "dive nugget." I haven't seen it taught or used since my OW course (besides when I do it), but I find it invaluable. Put your BCD on its back on the ground ontop of your weight belt. Lay your exposure protection on it, then regs, then fins last. "Close" up your BCD, then "close" up your weight belt....both as tight as you can get them. This is a nice, neat little pouch that can be carried around. I sometimes put the weight belt "head to waist" (perpendicular to the waist-strap of the BCD) and sometimes I'd do it parallel to the waist strap of the BCD, depending on how that particular pack went. This means you have ZERO bag to worry about. Even if you get a bag, practice this a couple of times because you might find the need to improvise, and it looks like you're a PRO when you get done with it!!

As for tipping, my standard is $0 if they sucked and/or did NOTHING or if they meddled with stuff that I don't want them touching, and asked them not to touch. $5 if they did a little bit, were definitely helpful, and were friendly. $10 if they were over-the-top fantastic. A more expensive charter will also get higher expectations from me, as I expect better service for the more expensive price.

 

[Instructor_Tom]

faithC;

looks like most of the ports have covered off on what you needed.

so I will add that you need to make sure whomever you are diving with can provide the weight you need. not all dive boats provide equipment.

also when you visit us down here, remember that there are plenty of air clear inland springs to dive within a 2 hour drive of the tampa area ( some closer) some of which will start having manatees showing up son if the temps keep dropping.

hope you have fun and enjoy your diving.

T.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[nolatom]

The three stages of "dry":

Your dive gear, and mesh bag---not dry at all, anything in it is supposed to get wet.

Your "boat dry bag"--lunch goes in there, logbook, clothes you changed out of, shoes, towel, good eyeglasses


And finally the "real" dry bag---the extra set of dry clothes, shoes, and towel you (should) leave in your car. You will never need this, unless you forget to bring them, then you will ;-)

 

[Hickdive]

Why not just do what everyone else does these days?

Bring a huge, non-collapsing bag (or better yet, some kind of rigid box) because then you can bring every stick of dive gear you own; whether you're going to use on this dive or not. Then take all your gear out of it and spray it around the bench and deck at random. Don't forget to leave particularly fragile items where other people can trip or sit on them and give them dirty looks if they do. Then don't bother assembling, testing or donning anything until the very last moment before the dive and then get in everyone else's way (push if you have to) whilst loudly asking "where's my xxxx?" Finally, make sure your dive is the shortest and drip kit all over the place, including into other people's bench spots, before they get back.

If you can't remember all this then feel free to take the PADI "Boat Diver" Speciality where all these handy hints are taught*.


*well, they might not be taught on that course but it sure as heck feels like it at times.

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

All of the above is fine - but call the LDS or Dive Boat operator and ask. This will clear things up - took my son on a dive last week and they wanted milk crates not soft mess bags. My advice - ask the folks that know - LDS that booked the trip or the Dive Boat crew/captain.

 

[TMHeimer]

I'll just list what i bring:
--hockey bag (hasn't busted yet) for pretty much everything except:
--big mesh bag for weights and weight belt--so far I have always brought my own weights (even to Panama). Most don't do this, but I just prefer my own exact stuff. I know where it all fits, and that it will fit. I make it work for baggage limits on plane.
--dry bag.
--small cooler for lunch--goes in the hockey bag.

 

[RJP]

This will clear things up - took my son on a dive last week and they wanted milk crates not soft mess bags.

Milk-crates are a Jersey thing... don't let word get out!

Which boat were you and your son on?