The all-inclusive tipping note -- Boats, DMs & Instructors

[DandyDon]

ok so I dive with my LDS usually. He charges $25 to rent 2 tanks(with fills) and then $35 for the boat ride. He owns the LDS and the boat. There are usually 8 people on board. Now, we go out on this tiny tiny lake, nothing really to see, it's more of a practice your skills dives. Now he doesn't help me at all in or out of the water. We all watch out for each other. Only thing he does is ask where we would like to go. Now you want me to tip him too??????? I think he's made enough for a 2.5 hr boat trip in a crappy pontoon boat.

Heavens No! I think the key words here are "Now he doesn't help me at all in or out of the water. We all watch out for each other. Only thing he does is ask where we would like to go."

Have you ever been on a dive trip in which - say, like is often done in Cozumel, one DM dives for every few tourists, then points out things like hidden toadfish and shares air & spare weights to divers who run short, then assists as the Captain and First Mate help with safe boarding. Then the mate even moves your gear to the next tank for you! The whole crew splits the tips; how they split exactly is their business.

Other places have other routines. At Roatan's FIBR, the tanks are already on board - along with towels, and the DM leads a larger group. Still the Captain & DM do a lot to make the trip wonderful.

Things were done differently at Catalina Island Calf, but the Captain, DM and Mate did assist us in many ways, including on-board food & beverages, and they even swam a line to us when we got caught in currents.

We loaded our own tanks in North Carolina, but the DMs went so far as to put our fins on us at the gate, working the best manifest security I've ever seen, helping us back on the boat, etc. There, I gave the tip money to the tour operator at the end of the weekend to pass along, but next time - direct to the DMs, every day.

In the Florida Keys, routines would vary on different boats, but in all of the different boats I did there, much was done for us, and I was happy to reward good services, as well as express my gratitudes throuigh a few tips. An extra $10-20 a day on a $1,000-2,000 trip is nothing.

20 divers @ 5 bucks a head in the morning, 20 divers @ 5 bucks a head in the afternoon= $200 a day. That comes out to about $20 an hour for a 10 hour divemaster day.

Split among 4 crew members who worked well, like I described above...? Too cheap! It just depends on the crew and trip...

don

 

[simbrooks]

I seriously need to start boat diving on some of these foreign sites, they sound like heaven for divers. I can understand giving these guys some extra cash (that is assuming they werent paid the equivalent of $15-20 per hour by their employers already to provide such a service and that was included in the price you paid ) But i really need to get out of east coast florida diving, not very experienced of all operations, but from what i have seen i havent been impressed enough to give any more than a moderate tip.

 

[cdiver2]

Sorry but I think your way of base on this.
It is no concern of mine what a ANYONE makes. If the service is bad then tip accordingly I dont care if he has twenty kids and no money if the service is bad then no tip, The DMs finical affairs should not enter into it.
Yes there are a few people that are tight but I believe they are in a minority.
Others tip within there means, some people have said if you can-not afford to tip at the going rate then you can-not afford the trip. What is the sense of a boat going out half full, even the big tippers will not keep the operation going if the boat is going out below capacity. A $1500 liveaboard tip 15% = $225 this is a weeks wage for some people that really put in a days work.
A extra $1500 and no tip is better than empty space's and the boat owners going out of business.

 

[divefan]

I agree. Why can't the boats pay the crew (divemaster) what it should be paid? It's a job. Pay your employees. In south Florida most divemasters are paid in addition to tips. $5 is a nice amount for an easy 2 tank dive. Down here we are not equipment intensive as in other parts of the country. Also, the diving, in & out of the boat, etc., is easy. Divemasters don't generally work their butts off. It really is a matter of discretion. What I do find offensive are tips as an obligation. Especially on liveaboards. That is where the company should step up to the plate and pay the crew (because that is what it is a crew) a real salary and NOT make the customer add 10-15% to an already expensive proposition. I guess though it's easier for Hughes and the gang to pay coolie wages to the crew and let the passengers pay the crews real wages. Keeps the profit margin high. Hey, in the end it's up to the individual. Tip or not tip. It's your choice. Don't let anyone force you into feeling obligated to tip. When it gets to that point it's no longer a gratuity-it's a burden.

 

[cdiver2]

Watched a very good documentary on public TV to-day, all about the seal and sea lion migration in CAL and how it affected the great white.

white shark red triangle.

 

[H2Andy]

Sorry but I think your way of base on this.

yeah, not to mention that he lost my attention and all credibility he might
have had with me when he launched an ad hominem argument just like that

(that means "personal attack" GQMedic, in case you don't own a dictionary)

 

[adshepard]

I tip for service. The more service, the greater the tip. The better the service, the greater the tip. The DM's tip starts at $0 and then increases based on the service. Do a very good job describing the dive site earns some cash (not too much because words aren't worth a lot.) Handing me my camera and then taking it back earns an even bigger tip. Help me loading or unloading gear on or off the boat earns a tip increase. Other things earn a tip increase too.

Of course you can have tip deductions. Be an ***** with an attitude and you lose ground. Don't be at the ladder when I need to hand up my camera and lose a lot of ground (probably your entire tip.)

Hey I really just want a taxi ride out to the site and back.

DSDO

Alan

 

[Natasha]

How can a thread about tipping get so out of hand?
Maybe 'someone' needs a little 5 or 10 day rest from scuba board. What do you think?

 

[Natasha]

Some PMs are being sent out..to the parties involved. Hopefully that can settle things down, and we won't need to force a 'rest'. Maybe a volunteer rest would be good for all.
Sometimes getting away from the computer can cool things down.

Maybe go diving..

 

[The Chairman]

Please refrain from calling others names... we don't need it and it only escalates the hostility of a thread. Y'all are smart enough to figure out how to make your points without it and it won't be tolerated. Hostility ends a thread's usefulness and we don't want that. If you have ANY comments on this then feel free to PM me, Natasha or any other Mod who you think will be sympathetic to your cause. Any public discussion about what is allowed or not allowed needs to be done in site support so we don't hijack this thread. Thanks for your time and cooperation.