wrinkles
Contributor
Please do not come anywhere near my work place...with guests like you i wouldnt be able to afford diving...
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
metridium once bubbled...
Take it up with the operators who recommend that amount. If they're happy with the quality of the crew and there isn't excessive turnover, then it would tend to mean that the level of tipping is satisfactory, no?
I always tip directly. If I know the DM from prior trips I even tip before we leave dock... as you imply in your question it's more hassle to do so later, although often as a result the DM pays too much attention to us - unnecessary and sometimes embarrasing.bluebanded goby once bubbled...
SNIP... I'm wondering about tip etiquette in more of one-on-one type situations. Let's say you hire a DM to take you on an escorted shore dive somewhere you don't usually dive... Or you're not sure that you'll see the DM again after you leave the boat. Do you need to have the cash ready at this point? Or would you wait until you're changed, go to the dive shop and say, "This is for Moses," and hope the DM gets it?
bluebanded goby once bubbled...
Here's a slightly different angle on the question ...
On my favorite dive boat here in Southern California, as the boat is heading back toward port everyone goes to the galley to settle their bill. There's a cigar box on the counter marked TIPS. Even when I'm on boats when the basic fees are paid in advance, a tip box usually comes out toward the latter part of the trip.
However, I'm wondering about tip etiquette in more of one-on-one type situations. Let's say you hire a DM to take you on an escorted shore dive somewhere you don't usually dive. The DM's fee is paid separately via a shop. After you finish the dive and are getting ready to say goodbye, do you try to artfully say, "Hey that was a great dive, here, let me give you this?"
Or you're diving in the tropics on a little panga, and you're not sure that you'll see the DM again after you leave the boat. Do you need to have the cash ready at this point? Or would you wait until you're changed, go to the dive shop and say, "This is for Moses," and hope the DM gets it?
... because you may have different boat crew or DM on different days. If a particular boat crew or DM has impressed me with their skill or attitude, I mention it to the dive shop manager at the end of the trip.alanconstant once bubbled...
How (not how much), do you tip for a five day package? We are going to Cozumel--should we tip each day, at the end, or both (eg. 10-15% each day and 5% on the last day)?
Alan, I once asked and was told that the tips were pooled, like parking attendants might do. I asked on another trip, and was told they didn't. So, IMO it might be good policy to ask and then tip according to the local custom... what do you think?alanconstant once bubbled...
How (not how much), do you tip for a five day package? We are going to Cozumel--should we tip each day, at the end, or both (eg. 10-15% each day and 5% on the last day)?