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

[Ted S]

To help things get back on track a few posts have been pruned away mainly to diffuse sub-arguments. Clearly there are some good points and a valid debate here; if you have something to add, state your opinion, but try and do so without taking away from the original question and without attacking others. Thank you as always for your understanding and participation!

 

[Zippsy]

How do you tip your divemaster after a dive? Is it done by percentage like the 15-20% for nice meals or is it just kinda give him 5-10 bucks?

What is the common courtesy practice?- PV

In my ever so humble opinion, the answer greatly depends on the local custom where you are diving in addition to the type and quality of service provided. At a luxury resort in the Caribbean, 10% of the diving cost sounds appropriate. On a taxi service boat in a Midwestern US lake, $5 may be appropriate. On a weekend LOB in east Malaysia, you should only tip the boat boys and, in the tip bucket, they should get RM20 to S$25 per diver for the whole weekend.
how did I do this time, teacher?

 

[paolov]

would it be rude, arrogant or whatever if a DM refuses to accept a tip?

 

[Zippsy]

If one was offered to me, I'd thank the person but say that the custom around here is just to tip the boat boys. I hope that doesn't sound bad to the diver.
If it was someplace like the Caribbean and the DM said something like "No thanks. You look like you need the money a lot more than I do". That sounds a touch rude.

 

[grazie42]

As has been said earlier I think tipping should be at the customers discretion and not an obligation. If it is, just include it in the price so that I know the true cost of your services. In Sweden tips are very rare and small (as we expect/trust that employers pay their workers adequately). If I were to tip someone 10$ for a 2tank dive then that would be more than 1/4 of the cost of the dives! To me anything more than a 30$ tip is a charge and should be listed up front and added to the true cost of service...Maybe that´s just me though...

 

[reubencahn]

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.

I had written a long response but I lost it. (Our network is problematic today.) Suffice it to say, that I agree with you on S. Florida diving. Most divemasters do little more than ask you if you had a nice dive. Consequently, I often do not tip divemasters here. When I do, it is five to ten dollars. As I think about it, I'm going to limit it to five absent some good reason to do otherwise. On the other hand, when travelling, the divemasters seem to do alot. And, in particular, the divemasters have always been particularly attentive to my son. For that, I tip well, perhaps excessively.

 

[Scubakevdm]

I like to tip my DM 10-15% of my gross anual income. Gifts are nice too, so is real estate.

 

[reubencahn]

I like to tip my DM 10-15% of my gross anual income. Gifts are nice too, so is real estate.

Sounds reasonable to me. Has the red algae up there cleared up at all during the winter?

 

[Brian Gilpin]

Although I tip DMs as appropriate I would feel funny taking a tip. I help out with classes occasionally and people who can afford it will offer to buy lunch or drinks and that is great. I would not want to take a tip from some college kid struggling to get by on a fraction of my income. Of course I am very part time and do not depend on diving income so my situation is different from a true working DM.

 

[DEEPLOU]

I like to tip my DM 10-15% of my gross anual income. Gifts are nice too, so is real estate.

Didn't you say you were unemployed? LOL