Course Recommendations, Nitrox, Tipping

[heatseeker]

Hey Everyone,

Being that I'm new to SCUBA diving, I'm looking for some advice regarding the following three things:

1 - Can anyone recommend a good place to get (PADI) certified in the Fort Lauderdale area?

2 - I saw that certain places offer a more expensive course which includes nitrox certification. What're the advantages of this, and is it something worth having?

3 - One of the course websites recommended tipping not only the mate on the dive boat, but the course instructor as well. Being that it's customary to tip fishing mates $10-$20 pp, I wasn't at all surprised by the suggestion to tip the mate. But is it normal to tip the instructor 10% of the course cost??

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

 

[flyboy08]

Tipping is a personal preference. If you like the services rendered, then show appreciation. I tipped my S&R instructor because she was awesome and it was two full days of one on two instructions.

I like Southbeach divers, but this may be a bit far from you.....take Nitrox after your OW and have a few dives under your belt. It's an online course with a brief visit to your shop for a review.

 

[Chip Elliott]

I have always tipped and will always tip the instructor(s). First, they don't get paid s&^t and it helps them. Second, they earn it. Third, they are worth it.

 

[Blasto]

Tip if you feel the instructor was good... of course you need to find a good one first. Instruction quality matters for OW, it varies a lot, and it's worth going the extra mile for.

Nitrox is worth doing, if you'll be diving a lot, you'll get Nitrox certified sooner or later. Keeps your tissue loading a bit lower, which lets you get longer dives or feel fresher after multiple long dives. The added cost is small and nothing to worry about.

The only question is whether you do your Nitrox with OW or with AOW or later as a separate course. Generally for any new diver more instructor time is always worthwhile, and a good instructor will help you improve in any course, but there are better courses for that like Peak Performance Buoyancy that specifically focus on fundamental skills improvement, so they don't depend so much on the instructor.

Most recently certified people I know got their Nitrox with AOW - it's really most useful in that 18-30m range, so that's a practical time to do it. But generally up to you, won't go wrong either way. The Nitrox course is short and basically comes down to a few safety precautions.

 

[TMHeimer]

I haven't witnessed anyone tipping an instructor after an OW course here. My only tip as an assistant was one beer once (of course in Canada that's probably a $6-$7 tip....). On charters I tip the DM $10 per tank, which I believe is the norm in North America.

 

[Skb]

Do you tip the instructor if he is also the shop owner?

 

[KathyV]

Slightly off-topic, but if you decide that you want to take a dive vacation after you get certified, the Tibbetts Family resorts and the Reef Divers op are offering free Nitrox and free Nitrox Certification if you book a vacation during mid-Nov through mid-January at one of their 3 resorts on Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, or Grand Cayman - see the link below.

Free Diving, Nitrox, and Nitrox Certification*

 

[BDSC]

But is it normal to tip the instructor 10% of the course cost?

Not where I come from. I agree with tipping the mate because many times they actually don't get paid but they do get to dive for "free". Typically instructors are being paid. Many of the instructors I personally know wouldn't take a tip anyway. Don't fall for it.

 

[Chip Elliott]

Not where I come from. I agree with tipping the mate because many times they actually don't get paid but they do get to dive for "free". Typically instructors are being paid. Many of the instructors I personally know wouldn't take a tip anyway. Don't fall for it.

Fall for what? Being considerate? If you are an instructor you really don't get paid very much. I wish some instructors on this site would chime in and tell us if they think tipping is appropriate and if they would take such a tip. I have never had a problem giving my instructors tips. I think it is the considerate thing to do.

 

[BDSC]

If you are an instructor you really don't get paid very much.

How much does an instructor make?