Tipping Etiquette in Western Canada

[MartianBeerPig]

Hiya,

I recently went on a trip over to Vancouver Island for two days of diving. The dive shop that arranged it all also provided a DM who also acted as our driver. We stayed at a dive lodge on the island - a small husband and wife team. She fed us and he took us to the dive sites.

It's not customary to tip for this sort of thing where I normally hide out so I didn't think of it at the time. But I have a bad feeling that I may have committed a bit of a Fox's Paw.

So what's the etiquette hereabouts?

 

[Joe Cool]

Funny how you refer to faux pas as Fox's Paw You have a very good question. I hope someone out there knows the answer. I am interested to find out as well.

 

[nadwidny]

Tipping is appreciated but not expected.

 

[KrisB]

chances are very good that your DM was less-than-well-compensated for that. But, he likely got paid *something*, and got to dive for free. Since he was your driver as well, consider what value he had to you -- cab fare? Dive guiding? etc.

As for the dive lodge, no tipping would have been necessary (though I'm sure it would have been appreciated) -- the owners set the price and charge what they want to make.

Coming from someone in the US tropics, I can tell you that dive guides (well, anyone in the service industry, actually) couldn't afford to live without tips.

 

[S. starfish]

Occasionally I'll get some beer from people who become my favorite students soon thereafter, but really, tipping isn't something that happens here.

 

[Shawn95]

I have only been tipped a couple times in my years as a DM/Instructor. As a customer here I find the boat prices high enough, compared to Halifax and the Lakes that I feel that when I pay 100-120 a day that is enough money. I do get paid OK as a DM here, even if my dives are a little shorter than when I am alone.

 

[KrisB]

I have only been tipped a couple times in my years as a DM/Instructor. As a customer here I find the boat prices high enough, compared to Halifax and the Lakes that I feel that when I pay 100-120 a day that is enough money. I do get paid OK as a DM here, even if my dives are a little shorter than when I am alone.

It's really strange how this matter of etiquette varies.

On Maui, 2-tank boat charters (including an in-water DM with no greater than 7:1 diver:guide ratio) generally run between $120-140 per diver. The DMs (who double as boat crew when top-side) get around $100-110 (total) for a day's work -- usually 6am-1pm. Yes, that's ~$14-15 per hour. But if you're not making $2k per month, you're going to be struggling to make ends meet.

Tips here, to the tune of $5 per tank, are virtually expected -- the crew has to mess up badly to justify tipping less. And tips of $10 per tank are much appreciated.

 

[Shawn95]

I know when I stop in Hawaii, I will do up to 10 dives on the same boat in a weekend. I put too much on the CC to tip too much. Bit, I dont let anyone change my tanks, I carry my own stuff and I even help with carrying tanks, and they dont have to watch me too close underwater.

 

[KrisB]

I know when I stop in Hawaii, I will do up to 10 dives on the same boat in a weekend. I put too much on the CC to tip too much. Bit, I dont let anyone change my tanks, I carry my own stuff and I even help with carrying tanks, and they dont have to watch me too close underwater.

For some boat crews here, what you've described / expect to see, actually requires more attention and work than what the "normal" diver would require... and if they actually let you do all of that, probably deserve a bigger tip, especially if you didn't show them your Instructor card when they asked for your c-card.

 

[nessum]

If I'm supposed to tip someone that brings me food and they get paid roughly the same wage as someone that is essentially responsible for my safety underwater.... why wouldn't I tip my guide? But, as in restaurants, it depends hugely on the quality of service.