Stupid Question: Tips

[Cross020]

Hi,

Ive been diving for 4 years now all of my diving has always been with my instructors. They make it a point to tag along with their students when diving, or invite former students when diving. All of my diving has been in Anilao with my instructors as guides. Now i will be visiting Coron tomorrow and will be diving with Rocksteady Dive Center. This will be my first time diving without my instructors and would like to know if...

You tip the DMs and how much? haha i know its a stupid question but upon reviewing the Rocksteady Website, the diving rate includes the service of the DM. But i would like to know if it is customary to tip the DM (which i think it is, especially if you liked the service) and how much

 

[Rogersea]

WOW it is very difficult to give you an amount that everyone agrees with. Here in the Philippines I used to tip around 100Php per dive if the service was good. If the service was exceptional I would tip a little more. If the service was poor then I did not tip anything...

Sometimes I would also tip the boat crew seperately if the service was outstanding...

Cheers,
Roger

 

[Centrals]

To run a successful scuba operation requires TEAM work.
How about the contribution from the boatman, tank boy, secretary, compressor guy etc etc?
The good thing about diving in Philippines is that tips is NOT expected but greatly appreciated.
I yet to come across an unhappy face over last 16yrs diving in the country.

 

[travelpro]

Yeah, wow..can of worms.....

I think what Roger said is reasonable. I'm from US where tipping is expected so its my nature to tip. 100-200Php is what I tip p/dive which would include boat crew. I would also not tip if I thought DM service was below my expectations; which is rare. Tipping even more with really exceptional service. I used to tip at the end of my trip but now tip at the end of the day. My service the next day becomes extra special...

I leave it to the DM to share the tips with the crew unless I'm instructed to put into a tip jar; I would still give the DM a direct tip.

 

[k ellis]

dont worry about customary. Tip what you feel it was worth. If you think its worth a dollar tip a dollar. If you think its worth 100 dollars then tip 100.00.

 

[TheMic]

I have always used the logic of around $5 a tank

 

[DevonDiver]

Tipping is just as important in the Philippines as it would be in any other location. That applies to Divemasters, Instructors, Boatmen, Shop Staff... any workers you encounter.

There's no "standard" on tipping, so make the amount representative of the 'added value' you feel that you received.

If a dive guide goes 'above and beyond' the rudimentary requirements of their job, then it is a positive thing to reward them for that effort. It not only shows appreciation, but also has the wider benefit of providing motivation and incentive to continue/expand on the quality of service they (and others) provide.

Factors that I believe are 'above and beyond' the job description of a DM:

1) Ascertaining the specific goals/interests of the customer and seeking to cater for them.
2) Assisting the customer (trained diver) with equipment transport/set-up.
3) Assisting the customer (trained diver) with repairs/maintenance/modification of their equipment.
4) Above-average skill in locating, identifying and demonstrating local marine life of note.
5) Emphasis on adhering to safe diving practices.
6) Above-average customer service; development of rapport, entertainment, conversation...and general interest in the customer.
7) Providing any special measures required to foster diver confidence, competence and enjoyment.
8) Provision of any remedial training, knowledge or practice to improve the customers' diving competency.
9) Any intervention or assistance provided that specifically contributes to incident/emergency/risk avoidance or resolution.
10) Providing any specialist diving techniques, equipment and knowledge that permits the customer to safely enjoy experiences beyond basic open-water diving (i.e. wreck, deep, night, photo, video diving).

 

[divetheplanet]

For whatever reason, tipping is not common practice here in Coron. Anything you give will be appreciated. My personal habit is to give the manager/owner a 1000 pisos to spread amongst the shop staff. I will give a personal extra to the compressor man, if he keeps me in supply of DIN tanks, and an extra to my dm. I usually tip 1000 pisos for a week of diving.

Ask for Ronaldo. He is a good and safe DM at Rocksteady.

 

[Wantonmien]

Think it depends how much is left in the wallet towards the end of a holiday, but if I can afford to fly to Philippines for a few days holiday, then I make sure I can afford to put some Peso in the hands of the staff who've looked after my gear, my air, my dives, the boat and the arrangements - Think last time I gave the DM 500, and put 2000 in the tip box to be shared out amongst the 6 boat / dive centre staff.

Cheers

 

[Searcaigh]

I have always used the tip box, especially for boat crew and other staff at the dive centre / resort. Exceptional service deserves an additional personal tip, during my last trip to PG I had an exceptional dive guide / DM resulting in some great subjects for me to photograph, I tipped him well after finding 90% of what I was looking for on the first day over three dives.