Tropicalwolf - I've met folks like you on the boat before. You're the person who starts complaining about the mosquitos on the dock before we board. Then you don't like your bunk or dive station assignment. When you hook up your regulator and find 2950 PSI in the tank, you want a top-off. You didn't come with a buddy, and don't have a solo card, and you complain about the new guy you end up buddied with, because he is running out of gas before you. When you analyse your cylinder (with my analyzer, because you don't own your own) you complain when you get analyzed at 31.4.
At breakfast the first morning, you stare at the chef when he presents scrambled eggs and corned beef hash, because you don't eat eggs, although you didn't tell us about any dietary restrictions (which we asked about when you booked), and you want the chef to make you a special meal. When we can't do a rig dive, or a deep wall dive, or dive the site you have read so much about because of conditions beyond the boats control, you don't say a word to me, but complain bitterly to the other passengers about "how disappointed" you are, and "how your vacation has been just ruined", causing a negative affect on the entire charter. When I have 2 or 3 divers on the boat who are very scary and we aren't going to dive where there is no bottom, like on a rig, I'm doing my best to bring everyone home alive while giving the majority the best time possible.
When we pull back into port, and you join the rest of the guests and crew for the final evening meal in a local restaurant, you peer closely at the bill, put in just enough to cover your bill plus a small (minuscule) tip, and state loudly that the service was lousy, the waitstaff was slow, and the food was cold, and you're not going to tip more than 2 bucks. Now, I live here, so I will make up your tip, because I bring a party of 25 or so to this restaurant every couple of weeks. That meal usually costs me $100 making up the shortfall in the check. Oh, yeah, they don't split checks in Key West. Don't even ask.
It's not even about the money. I have the highest paid crew in the liveaboard industry. It's the only way we have of keeping score. If you don't want to tip, write a glowing review and post it on your local chatboard. Send us a nice letter afterward. Write a lousy review if you feel that way. Tell the crew how we all suck and you'll never dive with us again. When you throw in a $20 in the tip basket, what you've just done is insult the crew. If you have the balls to treat us that way, at least be honest and tell us why.
Rakpix, since you're coming with me on your trip, we recommend 10% of the trip cost in the tip basket. If you were treated exceptionally well (by that, I mean we fixed your regulator for you, or lent you a dive computer, or replaced your high pressure hose, or lent you a pair of fins when you lost one, or made you vegetarian meals, or did whatever it took to keep you diving when your equipment crapped the bed), throw an extra 5% in to say thanks. If we did a lousy job, please tell us so we can fix it (or not) for next time.
Tropicalwolf, if it wasn't you I was describing, I humbly apologize for the insult.
