Tipping your dive guide?

[dlawr3]

What's an appropriate amount in Bonaire for a guide who takes care of everything? Thanks

 

[Lorenzoid]

That's a good one, as "dive guide" and "Bonaire" are rarely found in the same sentence. I am notoriously hesitant to bring my US tipping practices with me abroad, but in this case I would probably indeed leave a US-sized tip of 20%, since merely being a dive guide in Bonaire is sort of out of the ordinary.

 

[Scott]

What do you mean by takes care of everything?
Shore dives or boat dives?
General rule for me is $5-7 per cylinder/dive.

 

[wildbill9]

Sweet..... now to tell my wife she needs to tip me!

 

[dlawr3]

Shore dives- but I'd think it would be the same for a DM, wouldn't it?...set up/change tanks, drive to dive sites, help with fins and getting in/out of the water, point out interesting things, offer constructive feedback, etc. We're the only clients on these dives.

If you base it off the price of the dive, do you include the price of the tanks too?

Thanks

 

[Lorenzoid]

Shore dives- but I'd think it would be the same for a DM, wouldn't it?...set up/change tanks, drive to dive sites, help with fins and getting in/out of the water, point out interesting things, offer constructive feedback, etc. We're the only clients on these dives.

If you base it off the price of the dive, do you include the price of the tanks too?

Thanks

I would base it on the fee charged for the dive guide's services only.

For Bonaire, this really sounds like what I would call "valet service." This is more extensive service than any DM on a typical dive boat would provide. Driving you to and from the dive sites? Wow.