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You haven't addressed the economic realities. Competition pressures the small-business dive shops to lower per-tank prices (including competition from non-SCUBA activities!). Paying DMs more pressures the small-business dive shops to raise per-tank prices. There's a balancing act between...

I answered 2 pages later.

DAN and my FT employer pay it. I have a very good FT job, DMing is a weekend volunteer thing. Edit - we're talking about liability insurance if I get sued, not health insurance. DAN is the best for that.

I dive around Hawaii multiple times a year and other places in the Pacific. I still haven't made it to the Caribbean because of family obligations in Hawaii, but even here in Central Texas all the shops push the standard $10/tank rule of thumb (and Hawaii, Guam, Okinawa, California - but those...

That's a perfectly legit and valid business model. The psychological hurdle is the higher up front costs. Dive shops are small businesses in a very competitive market (and go out of business all the time - there aren't really any 1%ers running dive shops), so if their per tank or class prices...

My point is that whatever wage increase goes to employees will be paid by the customers. You stated that customers were already paying a lot of money, well increase wages and customers will pay more money. If the employer raises wages, then the customers pay more without the option of...

I'm pretty sure that if the shops pay the DMs more, then the customers will be paying a bigger chunk of money. The increased employee pay will be passed on to the customers, and the customers will no longer have the option of paying no tip, small tip, or large tip.

That's very common. Do you typically go on boat dives that are only $30/tank? Most boat dives I've seen and been on are $150-$250 for 2 or 3 tanks, so it would be closer to a 14% tip (7.5% to 20% per those numbers).

For me, technically the DMC with arguably one of the best Master Instructors (who's really tough on DMCs and his DMs are highly respected and sought out by other instructors), at least in the region. With most of the dives being in low-vis lakes, we really had to know UW nav (compass and...

Same for me, both divers so pay for two. We pay $10/tank standard everywhere and usually go above for good to great service.

Ding ding :)

No, neither W-2 nor 1099 but tips only. I never get paid by the shop. I volunteer to assist the shop's instructors, and the shop makes sure the instructors only ask shop-approved DMs. That means DMs having shop insurance. I could choose to go with another shop or independent, but I wouldn't...

I could, but then I'd be paying more than twice as much in insurance each year, I'd be violating shop rules. They're very protective of their business, which is very cut throat here in Central Texas (we've gone from 14 to 3 shops in the last 10 or so years). I agree that I wouldn't be able to...

I'm in a similar situation where I do classes some weekends and only get tips and free refills (and a shop discount on some gear purchases). I cannot help with classes unless both of these boxes are green check marks on PADI Pro: I'm positive that having liability insurance on file with PADI...

I forgot to mention my picture, mainly because the important bit is cut off. I'm not doing a Captain Morgan but showing my footwear to the boat captain. We were going deep in Lake Travis to one of the wrecks, and I forgot my dive boots. I said screw it, shoved my fins over my black combat...

Are you TPWD? You could always join TMAR and support their dive team without actually being on it. Yea, it's so fun and excellent buoyancy practice in a dry suit. I've had an unopened beer dropped in front of me and lifted it back up to the tubers' shock and awe. We usually stay under for...

That sounds like some fun diving. If I was up there with my dry suit I'd like to try it. I hope you get better soon and get back underwater.

Hi ScubaBoard, I first got certified PADI OW in Pearl Harbor 1992. Our submarine was scheduled to spend time in Guam, and one of my fellow submariner's previous life was as a cruise-ship PADI instructor. We questioned his sanity for the job change, but we had him certify us. I then dove in...

I will definitely do that, thanks.

Hey Max. If you're ever here in Central Texas I'd be happy to discuss dive options or go diving with you.