Do you tip your instructor?

[jadairiii]

You're comparing something like a university professor to a scuba instructor? ....A professor has gone through years and years of full time work, study and competition and teaches on a way higher level. You're getting paid pretty good money for this, at least in Europe.

I used to buy my college professors drinks and other natural herbs......but that was in the early 80's.....and they took that stuff happily.

 

[JMarc]

Scuba diving is a super easy to learn hobby

I don't have any other hobby which put my life on the line if I don't master the skills. I need a fair assessment of my capabilities, not one influenced by any hope of tips.

 

[Degenerate]

As a non american....
I've paid a (usually) hefty price for the class already and that's it.
This would be especially true for a DM class as in the OP, where you will help the instructor out during classes even.

 

[berndo]

And don't tell me "scuba diving is a super easy to learn hobby," as it depends on which course.

Meh, I think it's pretty easy to learn. What's a hard skill so learn in scuba diving?

 

[Degenerate]

Meh, I think it's pretty easy to learn. What's a hard skill so learn in scuba diving?

How many tech classes have you taken?

 

[Jake 10]

if it is hard, is all in your mind/brain

 

[berndo]

How many tech classes have you taken?

Why? You think a tech class is even remotely comparable to 4 year university degree?

Some people keep saying x or y class was hard and when you asked why, it's always that they had issues with some basic stuff. I started cave with 800 or 900 dives or so when I was in my mid 20s. Thought the skills were all pretty basic stuff.

I know the next question:
Before someone now wants to know If I have ever 'been in the water with gue diver' (I know, I know because they (think) they're so much higher level). Yes, I have, more than once. I was just diving with a hardcore DIR fan C2/T2 not too long ago. Still don't see what's supposed to be so hard to learn. There are other sports that are much harder to get good at, I think.

 

[Lorenzoid]

. . . There are other sports that are much harder to get good at, I think.

You may be right. If there is a challenging, perhaps hazardous sport in which the student's instructor is the same person evaluating the student for a certification that is required for the student to be allowed to participate in the sport, I can see a reason that kind of instructor should not receive tips. I'm not personally familiar with other sports like that. Maybe skydiving?

 

[berndo]

I'm not personally familiar with other sports like that.

There are a lot of hobbies where people get hurt pretty badly that require IMHO more skill and time to learn. Downhill mountain biking, free climbing, motor bike racing...

We as scuba divers (including tec) are probably the least fit, oldest and chubbiest group of 'athletes' out there.

 

[TMHeimer]

I probably assisted 10 different instructors on OW courses and never saw any of them getting tipped. Doesn't mean they didn't, just that I never saw it. As I mentioned, my only (one) tip was a beer.