To Tip or Not to Tip???

[lungs71]

Hi everyone I was wondering if you could help me with something I am struggling with. I have recently started diving with my brother-in-law and he brought something to my attention and I wanted to get some other points of view. Apparently from what I am told it is common practice to tip your instructors and dive cons after a training dive. We recently took a dry suite class and by brother-in-law gave everyone a $20 tip. I know these guys are not rolling in cash from the classes we take but is it common practice to tip? I have gotten to know all of the guys at the LDS fairly well and I don’t want to seam like an a$# by not tipping but then again I do not want to offend them either by not tipping…. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

I wish it were a common practice, but it isn't

Do what you feel, not what you're pressured to do.

 

[fairybasslet]

Gee. That's the first I've heard that. I got my OW way back in '83, but I did get my AOW in 2004. I think the instructor would have been insulted if I gave him a tip. But then again, I became friends with him and his wife after they certified my son in 2002. I didn't even think to tip him back then.

 

[scubamickey]

I have not heard of nor seen, any instructor being tipped. Especially if they are the owners of the dive shop. The dive shop owner told us that almost every dime of the course cost is kept by him, the instructor.

Divemasters are a different story. They don't make a lot of money, if any. But tipping them after a training dive is not something I've ever heard of. You're already paying a lot of money for the courses.

 

[del_mo]

As MY general rule, I don't tip classroom instructors (as I never tipped my college professors), but the boat crew will always get a $5 per tank tip. If it turns out my instuctor also "crews" the boat, then they get part of the kitty.

I "tip" my LDS everytime I purchase something from them.

 

[Chris Sawallich]

but the boat crew will always get a $5 per tank tip. If QUOTE]



I am sure there are many other posts on this subject... but, I always tip $10.00 per tank?? What is common place??

I have tiped instructors in the past... When warranted..

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

As I mentioned it isn't common practice but I get tips fairly often. I never expect it but always appreciate it.

I instruct because I love it, not for the money (money sucks actually) but money is always appreciated. So are students who become divers.

 

[daniel f aleman]

$10.00 per tank, you want service, or don't you? Never tip instructors.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

$10.00 per tank, you want service, or don't you? Never tip instructors.

Why never instructors?

 

[**ping**]

Bear in mind that not everywhere is the U.S. and it is not customary everywhere to tip 15 - 20%.

Go with the local customs. Read a tour guide book and look it up. I have had it happen to me that a local DM refused my tip because he thought it was too much (I came fresh from the US, so I was still used to the tipping practice there).


But I always tip when I am happy with the diving operation.