Who to Tip, and how much?

[Jonathan Shannon]

O.K., so I have been trying to figure out how much it's going to cost me to dive, and have come across references to tipping.

So what is an appropriate amount to tip, and who? Is it a percentage of the cost of your dive? Do you tip your dive master, the captain or both? Any others? This could quickly become prohibitavely expensive.

Thank you,

Jon

 

[John A Lewis]

Tip the dive master for sure. The rule of thumb I always have heard was $5.00 per tank, but if they made the experience really sing for you, give more. Others may have a different view.

I tip the Captain $10.00 per trip out, but that's my preference. There have been times when I found that all tips on the boat were pooled, then split by everyone working aboard. When in doubt ask--you won't be offending anyone.

 

[TMHeimer]

I have only been abroad once (Panama) and can't recall how I tipped. Folks will say it varies greatly around the world. My diving in the U.S. is simple--2 boat dives in a day and $10 per dive (so $20US). People will say it used to be $5/tank and now the standard is $10/tank. I give it to the divemaster, usually before the boat leaves the dock (especially if I have been on the same boat with him before). That way I carry no money on board. I rarely boat dive anyway, and can't recall any bad experiences with DMs. I figure that in most cases in the US the DM doesn't get paid--a whole 'nother interesting topic. Though I don't DM charters myself, I know what is involved, and what the cost, money and time-wise it is to become a DM. So I hear, Captains and other crew usually get paid a salary (or he owns the boat, etc.). A crew member who doesn't get paid AND doesn't get to dive is probably just crazy. I would also suggest doing a search as this is one of the most common questions on Scubaboard--and you will get the same array of replies.

 

[jonhall]

There are other threads on SB about this with interesting and funny comments.

I tip $5 for dive master and $5 for captain whether it's a one or two tank dive. I just like knowing that $10 is the only extra cash I need to take with me.

Also, if diving multiple days with the same outfit, I tip each day so the staff on the boat that day get the tips.

 

[edwants2dive]

Good Question. I appriciate the answer on the Captian and divemaster but now I will ask what about tipping when you are taking a certification? I am taking AOW in Pompano the week between Christmas and New Years should I plan on tipping or not? I am already paying a fair amount of $$ for the class would that preclude tipping?

 

[Steve_C]

Varies by the boat

-My local dive op that I dive with the most in NC the two owners drive the boats and are captains. They announce tips are for the crew/DM. I tip $10 per tank. They know me and my bad shoulders and carry my tanks back for me from the boat (I can do it if they are busy but they usually volunteer). They help with other stuff.

-I have been on other boats where there is a tip jar for captain and crew.

-Sometimes when traveling I will hire a private DM just so I can relax and enjoy what is a special dive to me and not worry about looking after instabuddies. Assuming it is a good experience I tip them extra past their fee. Especially if there is extra service like taking me back to my hotel, etc.

 

[noj3333]

Good Question. I appriciate the answer on the Captian and divemaster but now I will ask what about tipping when you are taking a certification? I am taking AOW in Pompano the week between Christmas and New Years should I plan on tipping or not? I am already paying a fair amount of $$ for the class would that preclude tipping?

I just did my PADI OW cert. I tipped my instructor $60 (at the end of the course, this was for my wife and I).
I also tipped the captain $20 ($10 a day).
I did my OW in Punta Canna, DR.

 

[TMHeimer]

Good Question. I appriciate the answer on the Captian and divemaster but now I will ask what about tipping when you are taking a certification? I am taking AOW in Pompano the week between Christmas and New Years should I plan on tipping or not? I am already paying a fair amount of $$ for the class would that preclude tipping?

I've never tipped an instructor or divemaster when taking a course--here at home or elsewhere. After a course, as a DM here I was once tipped a beer while the class did it's log book work. That's it. I haven't yet seen an instructor here being tipped after a course.
I know of a shop where DMs can make $200US/weekend in tips on OW checkout dives--the instructor encourages it. Then again, his DMs don't get paid and we do. I guess tipping on courses varies a lot.

 

[ColoDale]

I tip at the end of a trip if the captain and DM are the same and usually 10-20% of the total bill. I make sure to ask if the DM splits the tip with the captain. If so I tip separately. It can vary by location. If I tip for a single day it is usually $5/ tank but could be more. If the op doesn't do much or provide much like "here's your tank, be back on the boat in x amount of time", no camera bucket after I ask for one, etc, then I don't tip as much. Great service means better tip. My instructor was my father in law and I didn't tip. I think he got it back in chores.

 

[Painter]

I dove with a dive operation in Key Largo a month ago. There was a big tip bucket on the boat and the crew and divemasters shared the tips. From comments elsewhere on this board it seemed appropriate to tip $5 per tank. I also threw in an extra $5 per trip because of some personal attention. Figured as a percentage, that was somewhere around 20 percent, which seems about right.