To Tip or Not to Tip???

[diveman7683]

Being an instructor working on one of the most expensive islands in the Caribbean... I always appreciate tips.

While guests are charged quite a large amount for boat dives, and guided shore dives, these monies are paid to the dive shop. The instructors and dm's are paid by the hour, and seldom make more than minimum wage. It just seems to be accepted practice, and we just put up with it. As the saying goes, if you want to become a millionaire in the dive industry, start with 2 million.

The point I would like to make is... you tip someone for bringing you your food. You tip someone for carrying your bags at the airport. People even tip their paper boy. Why then would you not tip someone who litterally takes responsability for your life, and leads you underwater.

I go out of my way to make sure my students learn safe, fun practices, and all my guests have an enjoyable dive. I do not ask for tips, but I must be honest in saying that without them, some months I find it hard to pay my bills.

So tip your instructors and dms... make thier day...

Very well said

 

[Divmstr223]

Read back a few posts and you will see where I first posted that I DO TIP based on service received, and always do tip!!

I will defend to the death that tips are "optional" though, that's why they are called tips....otherwise they would be included in the original price...

listening to the comments from you guys, I would never tip someone like you who probably goes to the bar and talks sh** about the guy who didn't tip you that day.....It makes me feel good to tip someone who has worked hard for me and I will continue to do so..... I was only making a point that some people do not make alot of money and can't afford to drop $30 to $40 dollars on top of what they already spent on the trip.

and Daniel, you talk to me like someone who hasn't a clue and wouldn't drop you if you spoke to me like that in person.

 

[daniel f aleman]

and Daniel, you talk to me like someone who hasn't a clue and wouldn't drop you if you spoke to me like that in person.

I'm not talking to you, just responding to words on the screen, just as everyone else.

Tips are not optional, only the amount; and if one receives no service, or bad service, then one has nothing to tip for...

 

[Divmstr223]

I'm not talking to you, just responding to words on the screen, just as everyone else.

Tips are not optional, only the amount; and if one receives no service, or bad service, then one has nothing to tip for...

We have some level of agreement here and some level of disagreement. If you accept all the extras that they do for you and do not tip, that's pretty jacked up, agreed; but it is certainly your right not to do so if you choose. But to say that tips ARE NOT OPTIONAL is wrong, because I could walk onto a boat any day of the week and walk off without leaving a tip and I don't believe the tip police will track me down. That wouldn't say alot about my character to not tip when receiving alot of the extras in return, but it is certainly my option to tip period, a little amount, large amount, or no amount...my option.... we can go back and forth all day on this one and I will still say the same thing, and you will too.

 

[friscuba]

A tip (also known as gratuity) is an amount of money received by some who provides a service instead of a formally required payment. Instructors demand a certain payment for their services. Divemasters' services are optional to the buyer whether on a dive excursion or when in instruction.

This is just plain wrong, one size does not fit all.

I pay my DM/Captain $90 a charter. If I have a you and 3 intro divers or students on the boat, I Captain the boat, pay my DM 90 bucks to guide you, and then pay my additional instructor $90 for the day to take the intros or students.... You suddenly are saying that the Instructor who did 3-5 times the work does not derserve a tip?

Watch out for generalizations.

 

[DandyDon]

Some of this will depend on where you are. Your profile doesn't say...?

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

You're a professional, Al; raise your prices. By definition tips are for servants.

Hmmm, that statement implies a couple of things. First of all are you saying that Dive Masters aren't professionals? I wonder why you'd make such a blanket statement as never tip an instructor.

Secondly not all of us are independent instructors. I get paid per student. Let's pretend I get paid a zillion dollars a student but I give much more value than the student expects. Sure my dive master has done a wonderful job of hauling tanks back and forth but let's pretend the instructor is perceived as the one that gave 2 zillion dollars worth of value.

No tip for the instructor but that tank hauler gets a few bucks?

 

[daniel f aleman]

This is just plain wrong, one size does not fit all.

I pay my DM/Captain $90 a charter. If I have a you and 3 intro diversor students on the boat, I Captain the boat, pay my DM 90 bucks to guide you, and then pay my additional instructor $90 for the day to take the intros or students.... You suddenly are saying that the Instructor who did 3-5 times the work does not derserve a tip?

Watch out for generalizations.

Your instructor, in this case, is doing Divemaster work, and absolutely should be tipped. Actually, most working Divemasters are instructors.

 

[Rockdivr]

I have to say that as far as my first training dives were concerned, we were always told that tips were optional, but appreciated. I was obliged to tip because the services provided were first rate, and as my training progressed into more advanced areas of diving I was always lucky enough to recieve instruction from people who love what they do and thus provide services that warranted more than what they earned by the hour.

When I get a chance to do some diving out in the Carribian or the Pac. and book some dive trips, the first thing I do when I get to the boat is tell the dm(s) or boat crew... "Look, I have some camera equip here that is a little cumbersome, and I know it can be a real pain in the ***, but could you make sure to grab onto it for me and throw it in a safe place while I exit & hand it down to me after I enter?" No matter where I am I never lay down less than 50.00 after this request and am always taken care of. I also tip whatever dm leads my group on the dive...more so if he goes out of his way to point out marine life etc. on the dives. This is a daily procedure as boat crews/dm sometimes change.I do not expect special treatment as a digital photog ..............I PAY FOR IT. A 20-30 sec dip in the rinse tank and my gear is back in the bag for the next stop, I do maint-lens changes/ chk batteries before I board. I keep my gear out of everyones way and never hesitate to send photos of the dive to anyone on the boat via email, with a 2 gig cf card this is not a big deal, and if it makes someones trip more enjoyable who wasn't psychotic enough to shell out 3000+ for a camera system, then all the better.
I am not wealthy...Im an electrician from Chicago who takes my vacations very seriously....before a trip I always factor in tips for the crew & dms before I go as part of the cost...If I can't afford that....I pick another hotel. Strangely enough using this practice I have never been disappointed with service........Is tipping OPTIONAL...of course it is.

(and yes my wife beats me on a regular basis)

 

[ishbaby]

Over here: We pay a divemaster fee so . . . um, it's not really necessary to tip. Probably buy him a few beers after hehe. . . We do tip the boatmen though because they're really very helpful.