ChrisA
Contributor
In So Cal here is how it typically works (there are exceptions) The dive shops buy the whole boat and crew for something like $1,500.00 for a trip to Calalina. This is a 25 mile each way trip which might mean a five hours fuel burn. The captain is typically also the boat's owner. He pays the boat crew and does boat maintaince and fuel cost and so on all out of that $1,500. He typically runs two trips a weekend in the summer one in winter. The dive shops charge divers typicaly 100% above thier cost to charter the boat (assumes a full load of paying divers) but the shops will put on a DM and instructors if they are running clases. DMs and instructors don't pay and take up a spot from an otherwise paying diver. The shop makes good money (for little effort) if the boat sells out but could easly loose a grand if there is a light load.. The DM's are supplied by the shop but typically don't do much as the boat captains can give better briefings and DMs do not get in the water in So Cal. They stay aboard with ther cipboads, count divers and are ready to do a rescue if need be. DM's are either paid abut $50 (for a 12 hour day) or simply allowed to dive on a boat for free later. Most say they are not doing this for money and don't expect it. Buy them a beer and some food for the ride back. Boat crews do mostly have a tip jar. Some casuallymention it others are quiet about it. That $1,500 does get spread thinly with $3.00/gal fuel. So they can use the tips
In a resort area it is different. I think there the norm is that the boat is owned by the dive company and all the crew, DMs included are paid by the hour or day. While here in So Cal some of the DM's might of day jobs that pay 6 figures this is never true of crews in resort areas.
In a resort area it is different. I think there the norm is that the boat is owned by the dive company and all the crew, DMs included are paid by the hour or day. While here in So Cal some of the DM's might of day jobs that pay 6 figures this is never true of crews in resort areas.