Tipping at Coco View - I did search but have additional questions.

[Kharon]

OK – I have my reservation for CoCo View and have booked my flights. I have all types of information (much thanks to Doc) including a book covering Roatan dive sites. So I'm pretty much set to go.

The one thing I still have questions about is tipping. The CCV FAQ suggests 15% of the package price for the resort staff – for me that's an additional $576 (I'm staying 2 weeks). That's calculated from the final cost of the accomodations including taxes and single suppliment.

They also say to tip the divemaster and captain seperately – the same amount?

Also there's a $2/day “donation” for the park and another $2/day “donation” for the chamber. This is pretty nominal and serves a good cause.

I'm not really complaining but tipping the resort staff nearly $600 seems a bit much. Especially if the dive crew are to get an equal or greater amount.

Some of the posts I found during a search said $100 for the resort staff (I'm assuming one week) and $10 each/day for the Divemaster and Captain. That seems more reasonable but I don't want to short anyone.

I need some help (advice) here. I've never gone the AI route before.

 

[large_diver]

I've been there on 3 trips....based on others' advice, for a 1 week trip I tip the captain and DM $100 each and the resort staff $100 (total of $300)....this is for myself and my daughter. This works about to about 10% of the cost of a 2 person stay, which feels about right. I weight my tips more towards the boat captain/DM, since they are so good at CCV and really make or break the trip.

My 2 centavos

 

[Doc]

More comments will follow, but understand that there simply is no pressure of any kind for tipping. You get an envelope on "eviction papers Thursday", and do with it what you will.

We give the DM and the Captain $50 per person a week, plus a knife or pocket tool in the $50-75 category, but that's just our standard pattern. Actually, each and every staff DM and every Captain, along with the Dockmaster gets a tool or knife, so our totality of tip gets a bit large in sum. Seems that they have lost or destroyed last year's gift item by our annual return trip, so it works out.

It it is not uncommon to use the tip % envelope - but also give your housemaid $20 at the start of the week. The normally good standard provided service becomes even more attentive.

This is dual tip "jar" pattern evolved quite logically over the years. The main tip envelope was done to take care of the people you may never see that clean your rooms, those who do the dining room stuff, and originally, it included the DMs. As years went along, guest inquiries as to the system's workings and their desire to tip the dive staff to a level they themselves felt more appropriate, the DMs started getting a disproportionately higher amount, as they got the envelope split plus the dollars we gave them. So dividing out your boat crew seemed a good solution. Out of that tip envelope there are some dive ops guys that still get a piece, it's the other guys on the dive deck other than the boatsmen you deal with daily...the tank guys, and others.

So yes, if you are there for one week, you might want to hand out $100 each to your two dive crewman, plus the suggested percentage in the tip envelope. If you are there for two weeks, you got two weeks of service, and must remember that every member of the attentive staff has to also provide for their families on your second week, same same.

ALSO CONSIDER on a two week stay.... Their usual day off is worked into the changing of the weekly guests, Friday afternoon thru Sunday at noon. Some of the crew will work thru that normal day off schedule to take a couple of two week holdover guests out diving 4 additional departures (x2 tanks, so 8 in total additional- basically at no extra package cost to you) On Saturdays, they will likely take you to unusual dive sites depending upon what they have seen of your skills.

You'll quickly realize that even the full tip amount to a deserving staff is a great bargain for you. CCV jobs are highly prized on the island, thus they get the best of the best workers. They get paid a bit more than other dive op employees, but it isn't all that much by our lifestyles. Employment at CCV allows them to earn good tip money because they are part of a world class product.

 

[Kharon]

Thanks Doc. Exactly what I needed to know to be able to bring enough cash and not get caught short.

 

[Bali1]

Thanks Doc. Exactly what I needed to know to be able to bring enough cash and not get caught short.

I was there a month ago and my amounts are in line with what was posted before.

As an additional reminder: Bring cash to pay dockside and CCV bills. Credit card use to pay these will get an automatic surcharge, thanks to the Honduran government, which is pretty hefty (around 9% or more) which can be avoided if you pay in cash.

 

[DogDiver]

Dive light batteries make a good extra tip for your divemaster. Batteries are expensive on Roatan. I empty out everything with batteries just to save weight on the trip home. Have left a good backup light. Wife calls my primary cave light a $1500 flashlight. [emoji3] But I usually travel with two of my $150 backups and may give one to the divemaster.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Doc]

New batteries are always welcome, but used batteries can be a pox upon the already burdened trash disposal system. Anything used, including cxyalume sticks- haul it home!

Check the lists provided by CCV for "things to bring" for the local kids. Stuff like Crayola Brand crayons (they don't melt), spiral notebooks, that kind of stuff.

 

[gregm11]

They just leave a couple envelopes on your bed your final day with your final bar tab, and instructions on leaving. No one asks about the envelopes when you check out to leave and I would be surprised if anyone does leave a tip. I have been there a few times and I just tip the bus driver who picks me up at the airport and I tip the bar tender the night before I leave. I cant imagine carrying that much cash with me, that's what debt cards are for. Also, people don't realize how many people actually work at cocoview, splitting up even 100.00 would not go far at all. I also never tip any dive master no matter where I go diving, I never carry cash when I dive.. I just dont get it but that's me.

 

[parrotheaddiver]

i also never tip any dive master no matter where i go diving, i never carry cash when i dive.. I just dont get it but that's me.

really!!! :-/

 

[Tool Belt]

really!!! :-/

I am still hoping gregm11's response is tongue in cheek............