Tipping instructor?

[Scuba Brad]

I'm with Catherine....................you could take them and their spouse or "special other". It could be a REALLY nice dinner or lunch. Make them feel appreciated because they ARE. Having said all of that.......frankly most of the students earn tons more than their instructors...........so hey a buck or two would kill them.

Happy Dining errrr Diving

 

[dl348]

My wife and I bought our instructor a few drinks later that night.

 

[Hawaii Scuba Divers]

Tipping Dive Staff Instructor included is like Having a Fine Meal..If it was Great then tip GREAT if it was BURNT then no tip is GREAT...

 

[PaulChristenson]

Cash on the barrel head ...for a week of super instruction

but then I can afford it

Paul in VT

 

[Halthron]

I won't tip an instructor cash. I've bought them lunch, taken another course and recommended them to others though. I've never taken a class from a dive shop instructor, it's always been someone who either owned the shop or was an independent. So, I've felt tipping the instructor would be like tipping a boat captain. Someone else I don't tip unless he's doing DM or boat monkey work.

 

[Scubagolf]

My rule of thumb is to tip 20% for good service in restaurants, cab rides, haircuts, and dive-related services, UNLESS I am being served DIRECTLY by the business owner, who makes his or her money on the profitability of the business. Dive instructors and waiters who work for somebody else make very little in direct wages and rely on tip income to survive.

 

[Jim Ernst]

we should remember!!! the instructors GET paid!! it is usally the divemaster that should be tipped if they do a good job, and i have a couple of the instructors i dm for that politely let the class know this, though two of the instructors i dm for actully do pay me as thier dm!!! just my 2 cents

 

[scubak]

I have never heard of "tipping" my instructor. I bought a class and paid for the instruction. If we happen to go to lunch, or I bring a pack of their favorite beer, or a bottle of the preferred scotch, then so be it. I never tipped my college professors (maybe I should have), nor do I tip my Dr. or the Jiify Lube guys. I will tip a DM on a boat, because that is what they work for. I have as Dive master leading shop dives have never expected to be tipped. Nor did I get paid from the shop.
Just my 2PSI
Kirsten

 

[friscuba]

I'm with Catherine....................you could take them and their spouse or "special other". It could be a REALLY nice dinner or lunch. Make them feel appreciated because they ARE. Having said all of that.......frankly most of the students earn tons more than their instructors...........so hey a buck or two would kill them.

Happy Dining errrr Diving

Both you and Catherine hit on an option I'm torn on... dinner, lunch, drinks, etc. Sometimes it's nice, others it's really more of an inconvenience. I would think if you know your instructor is single and has absolutely nothing to do later, then it might be appropriate. Married, other obligations? At that point, who knows.

I used to get lots of offers for dinner and such - I lived an hour away, have a hard working wife an hour away who doesn't want to kill 2 hours driving into town for dinner, our schedules didn't match so the 2 hours a day we actually get to see each other (sometimes) alone was valued, often I had to work the evening job, so we'd go a few days at a time without seeing each other awake....blah, blah, blah.... anyway, there were numerous times the offer was extremely inconvenient and I had to politely refuse. I think maybe in 4 years I had one or two persons say, well gosh, I still really appreciated your efforts, here's something, do something nice for you and your wife or buy yourself a beer when you have time. I'd have been way ahead of the game if I was given an 85 cent tip every time I couldn't come join them.

I've had people out of the blue give me alcohol without asking, worked for me back in the day, but I actually do know a few "recovering" instructors who definitely do not want or need such items.

It sounds wrong, but cash always works as a tip, anything else, make sure it'll work for the insturctor/DM or whoever.

later,

 

[friscuba]

I have never heard of "tipping" my instructor. I bought a class and paid for the instruction. If we happen to go to lunch, or I bring a pack of their favorite beer, or a bottle of the preferred scotch, then so be it. I never tipped my college professors (maybe I should have), nor do I tip my Dr. or the Jiify Lube guys. I will tip a DM on a boat, because that is what they work for. I have as Dive master leading shop dives have never expected to be tipped. Nor did I get paid from the shop.
Just my 2PSI
Kirsten

College profs and Doctors? The Jiffy lube guys might be a more fair comparison, although they probably make more than most instructors.

Funny thing, lots of people don't bat an eye at tipping the haridresser, waiter, pizza delivery guy, paperboy, bartender, hotel staff... but tipping the DM or Instructor who actually spent time making sure you are safe is off limits.

I don't think Instructors expect to get tipped, but why should it stop at the DM level? The DMs I know here in Kona all outearn the Instructors. Hmmm... lesser qualification, easier job, better pay... no wonder some of the best, most experienced Instructors here won't teach and prefer just to guide or Captain.

later,