1_T_Submariner
Contributor
The gifts show more thought than just cash. I think a combination is great. The staff at the last resort I visited all had T-shirts from differnet clubs that visit they seemed really proud of them.
Ideas for tipping "above and beyond"
- Thread starter Kingsley Zissou
- Start date
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diver 85
Contributor
OK, but everything you mentioned can be compensated for(bought) with cash....I know when our son was 'working in the business' a few years ago, cash(esp USD-he was on Roatan over half the time he worked scuba profesionally) was what they wanted & appreciated.....@ 19 to 23 y.o., ole Mom & Dad coming down every 3 to 6 months could get what he really 'needed'...
Damselfish
Contributor
In remote locations, everything can't be bought with cash, as some things simply aren't readily available. I think if you're going to do non-cash things it makes sense to concentrate on things not easily available.
We once gave someone a pack of Fig Newtons and while they appreciated the tip, they seemed more excited about the Fig Newtons!
We once gave someone a pack of Fig Newtons and while they appreciated the tip, they seemed more excited about the Fig Newtons!
OP
Kingsley Zissou
Contributor
That's a good example of what I am talking about. That person probably would not have been nearly as excited if you had added $2 more to the tip. But $2 worth of fig newtons... who wouldn't love that? After all they aren't just a cookie, they're fruit and cake.
BTW, they are a great sweet treat to take on the boat anyway because they don't melt or crumble like most sweets.
Thanks
Cold, hard, American cash is still the best, and if you want to sweeten it with a cool t-shirt or some booze, that's good as well.
Be careful with the Fig Newtons though. It worked ok for Damselfish, but not so well for Marie Antoinette.
Be careful with the Fig Newtons though. It worked ok for Damselfish, but not so well for Marie Antoinette.
I got a really cool one today from a past customer. A box full of herbs from his garden. You could really tell that he put a lot of effort into the packaging of each jar and the way he packed the jars in the box must have taken hours. The tips where good from the trip, but this little care package is really nice.
Attachments
Aha, numberfivedock's post reminded me of another cool "tip" from some of our divers that become like extended family. After trying scuba for the first time with us in a pool, a family of four went diving in the ocean and fell in love with it and with us. Even though they left a generous cash tip, a few weeks later we were surprised to find a card and a box of pastries they had shipped from their home on the east coast - pastries you couldn't get anywhere else and which we had never had. Yummy and more than anything, so incredibly thoughtful! Kind of like the fig newton thing...
Although not politically correct, you might consider picking up a carton or two of Marlboros at the airport duty-free shop on your way to your dive destination. American cigarettes have a high value abroad, and even non-smokers are grateful to receive them.
OP
Kingsley Zissou
Contributor
We just got back from our trip to the keys yesterday.
During the first part of trip we spent a few days diving with Rainbow Reef in Key Largo. They run two boats at this location and each does a morning trip and an afternoon trip. The time in between trips, the crews are working to help divers off the boats, fill tanks, do some housekeeping and help the new divers on for the afternoon dives. All this happens in about an hour, during which the crew also has to take care of their own lunch (lots of candy bars and rice crispy treats).
We spent time on both boats with different dive guides and crews over a few days. We tipped cash after every trip like usual, but on the last day we decided to do a little extra. We went to the local Papa Johns and showed up with a stack of pizzas at the dock when the morning trips returned so the crew of both boats could have a hot lunch that they did not have to chase down themselves.
We stopped by on our way back a week later to pick up t-shirts and were met by many smiling faces and enthusiastic thanks.
It was well worth it in my book.
During the first part of trip we spent a few days diving with Rainbow Reef in Key Largo. They run two boats at this location and each does a morning trip and an afternoon trip. The time in between trips, the crews are working to help divers off the boats, fill tanks, do some housekeeping and help the new divers on for the afternoon dives. All this happens in about an hour, during which the crew also has to take care of their own lunch (lots of candy bars and rice crispy treats).
We spent time on both boats with different dive guides and crews over a few days. We tipped cash after every trip like usual, but on the last day we decided to do a little extra. We went to the local Papa Johns and showed up with a stack of pizzas at the dock when the morning trips returned so the crew of both boats could have a hot lunch that they did not have to chase down themselves.
We stopped by on our way back a week later to pick up t-shirts and were met by many smiling faces and enthusiastic thanks.
It was well worth it in my book.
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Here in the Pacific NW, a starbucks card has always been appreciated. Have to agree with others that a heartfelt "thank you" goes a long way. Take the time to fill out an evaluation form/note/letter so the people who the DM works for knows the he/she is doing a great job.
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