Paying Extra

[chincoteague diver]

While you are taking your ow sessions and ow dives is there any situation where you would have to pay more (tip?) for special services rendered by your instructor. I'm just asking because I'd hate to not do something that is normally considered standard. If you received individual attention, do you pay extra, or is that basically included in the $500-/+ that you already paid. Also while on regular ow dives (after becoming certified) is there any situations where it would be appropriate to tip? Like the captain or an on board dm?

 

[scubadobadoo]

It is customary to tip the boat (usually a tip jar) 20% when you go out with one. It is also customary to tip your dive instructor unless your dive instructor is the business and you are paying him/her directly and not through a dive shop. Basically, the dive industry is a "tipping accepted" industry as most employees like a DM count on tips to pay bills. All that said, if you aren't happy with the service, then tip less or don't tip. It will likely take you 25 or so dives with a few ops to realize what you like and don't like from a dive staff. In my case, I tip HEAVILY for bottom time and smiles. That is all I really expect for my money. Other dive ops will carry your gear, set it up, switch out tanks between dives, feed you, give you water, guide the dive and more. I prefer to set up my own gear but I have to admit that on a tiny boat it is nice to have someone else change the tank sometimes. Have fun, be patient, and smile and you will likely get the same back and more from most dive ops!

 

[Bowmouth]

ONLY tip if you feel that you've had better than expected service. You should NOT tip because you think it is what's expected or because other people tell you to. Also, there can NEVER be a certain set amount or percentage for tipping. Tipping is giving some extra money to a person or persons because YOU feel they've really deserved it and did MORE for you than you expected. It's ridiculous to tip a person because they expect to be tipped. Way too many people in the service industry "expect" to be tipped but do very little or nothing extra but their job.

 

[Lost_At_Sea]

I always tip. I never tipped my instructors, but I always tip the boat and the DM's. Even if they the boat and DM was bad, I would still tip because they do pay bills just like the rest of us. Now my tip will not be as much as if someone who was good.

 

[hectorj84]

Relating to tipping, do you tip after you have gotten off the boat, just before you get off the boat, etc.? And, where is your wallet at this time is it in your car or do you guys use some sort of dry bag and carry it in your bag to the boat? Is there any potential that someone in the boat may steal your money from your wallet while you are down underwater if you do have it in the boat?

 

[immersed]

I've never tipped an instructor. I've not tipped a DM, either, but have never been on a guided dive - DM just gives briefing on the site before the dive. I think 20% is too high, and if you're diving out-of-country it should be commensurate with the local economy.

I don't take my whole wallet; I take my car key, alarm remote, driver's license, and c-card, and keep them in an otter box. I've never been worried about leaving anything on the boat, but I only take enough money for the tip.

I feel the same way as Bowmouth, really, but the world seems to have moved past that ideology; I instead don't return to establishments that don't give me good service. The deckhands on the boats I've been on always bust their buns so I don't begrudge them a tip whatsoever.

 

[pir8]

Tipping is never required anywhere, in my opinion, but always appreciated. A lot of boat crews don't get paid by the boat so tips are their compensation. Accordingly they should treat you as such.

 

[chincoteague diver]

The deckhands on the boats I've been on always bust their buns so I don't begrudge them a tip whatsoever.

So if there is more than one person, do you tip them individually? or do they pool thier tips, ie tip jar?

 

[Louma]

I've been offered a tip a few times but, I've politely turned it down. Being an Instructor is way, way more than the money. You should always tip the boat crew. If it's bad service tip less and don't use them in the future. Usually a tip jar goes around at the end of the dive or it's in a prominent location prior to getting off the boat. The tip is then split among the crew. The problem I have run into is when you have the whole boat for a number of days like on a family dive vacation (there are 18 of us divers now!). We usually save our tips till the end of the dives. If it has been good service the crew gets to split quite a lot of money.

 

[chincoteague diver]

... on a family dive vacation (there are 18 of us divers now!).

Wow, I bet those are fun times as a family! A whole boat full of people who already know each other... and 18 that's enough to start a mutiny and take over the boat!! Ha ha.