You should have seen the hit the donuts were that we brought to the dive team on Bikini, and the beef jerky on Chuuk, and the tootsie roll pops on Yap (in between their betel nut), and the lemon drops in the Solomons, Lembeh….., and the Pinot noir (knew about that in advance) in………. And, how happy I was today when someone brought in Christmas cookies.......
Khao Lak Scuba Advanture Similan Island liveaboard on Manta Queen II
- Thread starter eelnoraa
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You should have seen the hit the donuts were that we brought to the dive team on Bikini, and the beef jerky on Chuuk, and the tootsie roll pops on Yap (in between their betel nut), and the lemon drops in the Solomons, Lembeh….., and the Pinot noir (knew about that in advance) in………. And, how happy I was today when someone brought in Christmas cookies.......
Point taken. You're all kids at heart then (and that's probably not a bad thing)!
I still contend, though, that at least in Asia the locals who make up the boat crews (and to whom the money in the tip jar goes on most boats) may smile and think you're kind, but to them candy really isn't a tip. Passing candy out may give you the warm and fuzzies, but it shouldn't be considered a reward for good service to any extent at all. On what do I base this? Well in the 12 years I've resided in SE Asia, I've brought back lots of stuff to give to my local staff as thanks for keeping things going during my absence, and any sort of edible gift evinces far less enthusiasm than a bonus, without a doubt.
Western staff, on the other hand (and westerners make up a large portion of dive staff here) may enjoy imported treats. Even hard-to-get items like a good chunk of cheese can be special to the right person. One of my customers brought me cookies last year as a gesture of kindness, and I very much appreciated the thought behind the gesture. However, it's pretty hard to guess just what any particular person might be yearning for, and there's never any question that money is always useful. And to be completely honest, the cookies I received must not have made a huge impression since I stuck them in the cupboard and forgot all about them until I straightened up the cupboard a couple of weeks ago and found them there, still unopened!
I still contend, though, that at least in Asia the locals who make up the boat crews (and to whom the money in the tip jar goes on most boats) may smile and think you're kind, but to them candy really isn't a tip. Passing candy out may give you the warm and fuzzies, but it shouldn't be considered a reward for good service to any extent at all. On what do I base this? Well in the 12 years I've resided in SE Asia, I've brought back lots of stuff to give to my local staff as thanks for keeping things going during my absence, and any sort of edible gift evinces far less enthusiasm than a bonus, without a doubt.
Western staff, on the other hand (and westerners make up a large portion of dive staff here) may enjoy imported treats. Even hard-to-get items like a good chunk of cheese can be special to the right person. One of my customers brought me cookies last year as a gesture of kindness, and I very much appreciated the thought behind the gesture. However, it's pretty hard to guess just what any particular person might be yearning for, and there's never any question that money is always useful. And to be completely honest, the cookies I received must not have made a huge impression since I stuck them in the cupboard and forgot all about them until I straightened up the cupboard a couple of weeks ago and found them there, still unopened!
lord khram
Contributor
Unfortunately the same seems to apply to most things in Thailand. Whilst people are making money today nobody seems to care about how their activities are affecting the environment and other people around them. Or indeed dont seem to think where their precious money will come from in the future when everything has been damaged and tourists stop coming.
stevenl
Contributor
Gloves are allowed BTW, IMO unfortunately.
lord khram
Contributor
Yes, completely unnecesarry for recreational divers in the water temperatures that are experienced in Thailand.
I'd been over there with several companies and all are saying in the briefings that Gloves are not allowed because National Park Rules, since 3 years ago, but maybe you are right and is just a way to make the things easier and not to receive complains because they are not allowing that.
Anyway i guess that the rules have to start from the individuals and the liveaboard rules. Is really Sad to see constantly people (mostly Japanesse and Russians) destroying everything, staying over the coral, breaking sea fans to take a better picture of a Ghost Pipefish and the guides allowing that. Where is starting and finishing the responsability of each person?
If you are working as Trip Leader of a Liveaboard i think is your responsability to have rules, like not to dive with gloves, not to stand over the coral, not to touch anything, not to chase anything (like the mantas), if you say that in the main briefing everybody is gonna have a better behavior, and if not you can always warning them and if still doing the same punish them not diving the next dive (is working!!)
stevenl
Contributor
Totally agree with you, I even send divers up to the surface if I don't like their behaviour under water, whether they are diving with me or somebody else. And believe me, they listen, even if they are diving from a different boat
SeaTiger
New
I know this is ~10 months later, but I'll also be heading to Khao Lak for diving and am curious about bootie thickness. I'm a CA kelp diver with 5mm soled booties and am thinking about getting 6mm women's Deep See Atlantics. Will 6mm booties be too warm for Thailand? I'm not sure how to judge my temperature coming from CA to somewhere so much warmer, but I'd guess that I run cool. 6mm sounds like it'll be toasty and nice... but I don't want to fry! Thanks.
stevenl
Contributor
I don't see how booties can be too hot. 6 mm will be thicker than the usual here, but frying because your feet are a bit warm?
If they're comfortable, take them.
If they're comfortable, take them.
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