Dive Boat Etiquette on SoCal Boats

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Christian,

I tip $20-30 and I just put it in the tip basket which they put out right before you arrive back at the dock.

-David


headhunter:
Great information!

Tipping has been mentioned a couple of times, so I'll ask a few follow up questions.

What is a proper amount to tip in SoCal assuming that they are doing a stellar job?

What is the amount of tip based on if the job is less than stellar, but not bad enough to withhold a tip completely?

Do you tip everyone individually or do you usually toss an amount into a kitty?

I understand that situations may vary because of one member of the crew being absolutely worthless while the others are working like animals for you. I'm looking for the general rule.

Christian
 
20% on a Day boat, and +15% for every additional day on a liveaboard.

The dive crew is providing a service and every service deserves a tip.

My standard is to tip 20%, when earned.
 
* Arrive early - if you're skidding into the parking lot on 2 wheels 10 minutes before we're supposed to leave, you should get left at the dock. We hate waiting for you. Go shore diving you slacker.

* LEARN THE NAMES OF THE CREW - they were all introduced to you at the first dive briefing. Pay attention, learn their names, and call them by their names throughout the trip. Respect these people. Learn the name of the cook, and call him/her by their names. I can tell you the names of most of the crew and about all the cooks for the SoCal dive boat fleet. This is important stuff - to them and to those of us who like these people. If you're going to blow off this first small, simple courtesy, go shore diving you slacker.

* DO NOT put on your fins at the bench and Donald Duck to the gate. If you haven't gotten spring straps yet, or if you can't do a quick, effortless figure four while standing at the gate because you have plastic fins with some wacky space age buckle system, go shore diving you slacker.

* Ask the DM, and be perfectly clear WHEN WE ARE MOVING TO THE NEXT SITE... I am usually the first one in and the last one out, as I dive the water heater. However, what's most important to me to know when we're moving so I can be back on time. I don't care about anything else (gate open, gate close, blah blah blah...) it doesn't matter - I won't make a boat wait for me. I'm the guy, on the last dive of the trip, who crawls up the swim step to see everyone else's bags packed and the rest of the divers in the galley. I'm OK with packing my stuff on the way home as I'm the last on - I dive to the boat schedule, not to the other diver's schedules. If I ask, and the DM doesn't provide a time for me to be back, I'm not late - get over it. If you can't manage your dive to be back on time so we're not late to the sites, go shore diving you slacker.

* Get into the flow - this is related to the point above. When you get back on deck, get your first stage off, and get filled - the biggest reason people are late getting back, is because they were late getting in. They're late getting in because they were late getting filled. Usually they're late getting filled because they weren't paying attention... its YOUR responsibility to be sure you get a timely fill. You alone are responsible for your fill - if the crew isn't snappy, it cuz they know you're in the galley hitting on the hotties and not paying attention to getting your cylinder filled. If they know you're on top of it, and treating them with respect (see learning the crew member's names, above) you will get fast, fat fills. You'll be diving while Casanova is wondering why he is still at 900# and everyone else is in the water.

* Wetsuit divers - mop up after yourselves in the galley. Just like the gym (where I don't want to get on slimy equipment), don't leave your slime on the vinyl benches at the tables. Some of us dive dry, and are averse to sitting in a puddle of your yuck water. Bring a little towel, stash it someplace accessible and dry, and after you're done eating, mop your wet butt print off the seat. If you can't master that simple courtesy, go shore diving you rude slacker.

* TIP THE CREW - I can't believe I'll go on a day boat, and see people drop in $5. Three dives, two meals, snacks, a couple of fills... please. I get the whole "dive boats are expensive thing" - but if you're dropping $90 - $120 for a dive trip, stay home if your not going to budget $15 - $20 for a tip.

* PAY ATTENTION TO THE DIVE BRIEFING - don't talk over it, or sleep through it, then hit the water and meander around and make us launch the skiff to bring you back cuz the current on the port side is ripping and you just thought there was no kelp. If you're going to blow off the briefing, go shore diving you slacker.

* Say hi to Ann Marie. She won't say hi to you first.

* If you shower, after you towel off (UUSHNUU), please dry off the rest of the head. On most boats, the head IS the shower... I hate walking into the head after one of you wetsuit divers have showered (errrr "warmed up"), and everything is wet - sink, toilet seat, toilet paper, paper towels, walls, ceiling, floor, etc. Get a grip. If you're going to shower in a head that doesn't have a dedicated shower area (like my beloved Pac Star does) grab your little towel (see mopping up the galley seat, above) and dry off the place for the rest of us. These little white terry towels are like $7 for 24 of them at Home Depot. Here's an idea - leave a $15 tip on your next trip, hold the fiver and plow through the ashtray or sofa for another couple of bucks and go buy a bag. Keep a couple in your dive bag in a zip lock. The rest of us will thank you.

* You gotta be kidding me with the rinsing of gear on the boat... please. Your gear will not rot in the time it takes you to drive home and rinse it that night or the next morning. There is no sand grinding your stuff. Like Jenaza said, if you're going to hog freshwater to rinse gear, go shore diving you slacker (ok, so I paraphrased for emphasis...)

* Put in an Adam Sandler DVD and you will get tossed over the side.

* If you clog the head, FESS UP so it can get fixed right away. Don't roll out, pretending it was clogged when you went in (or worse, come out and wait for someone else to discover it...) Its OK if you clogged it. Get the info to the crew, they'll unclog it, and we won't have to clip you to the anchor.

* Control your kids. If you gotta bring you're non-diving kid(s) along, I'm fine with that, so long as they're mellow, quiet, not under-foot and Rug Rats isn't playing in the galley TV (Rug Rats or yet another Sandler movie... crimany, that IS a tough call...) This is a dive boat. Have a plan for your kids, bring a sitter or leave them at home and go shore diving.

* BRING A COMPLETE DRY BOX - I am not your o-ring supplier. I am not your hose supplier. I am not your mask strap supplier. I am not your tool box, your HP Port plug supplier, your zip tie supplier or your battery guy (hint to Vytec divers... if you don't have the tool to change the battery, you may now RENT mine for $10 a shot...) The key to boat diving (especially on the 2 or 3 day trips) is to be self sufficient. If your idea of a dry box is the Trident "Save A Dive" kit, go shore diving you slacker. (PS: any real drybox has a $20 in it... so if you haven't budgeted for a reasonable tip, raid the dry box, and replace it when you get home, Rockefeller)

* Bring cash for Poker. We don't play for chips (see Dry Box $20, above)

* No whining. Ever. If you don't plan, if you're not in shape, if you get sea sick, if you think the food doesn't meet your lofty standards, if the bunk room smells funky, if you aren't prepared for equipment failure, if the dive site plans change and you're not happy with it, if you want AquaFina instead of tap water, etc, etc... blame yourself. This isn't shore diving you slacker. We roll with things here. We're on the big blue ocean, the mighty Pacific - this isn't Sissymel - stuff changes here and things happen. If you are dissatisfied with the trip and must protest, do so with your wallet and simply don't come back. Don't go pout in the galley. There are several boats in the SoCal fleet I've only been on once, and will never return to. I don't whine about it - I vote with my business.

* Don't bogart the Jicama on the Pac Star - oh wait... that's me :11ztongue


There's more - but everyone else is hitting this pretty hard. Good stuff, people.


---
Ken
 
ICY ICE:
20% on a Day boat, and +15% for every additional day on a liveaboard.

The dive crew is providing a service and every service deserves a tip.

My standard is to tip 20%, when earned.
I have only been on a boat dive once for the bottom scratcher, but my understanding was that tip was included. Thats one of the reasons it costs 95$ per person.
Is it that different from being on a sport fishing boat?
People dont tip the deck hands for helping them gaff their fish. They do if they fillet it for them, but thats about it, and you tip the galley person for the lousy ham and cheese sandwich.
If this is how it is supposed to be, I guess I will do it, but I want to get more feedback first.
Just because somebody makes your 5$ latte at Starbucks doesn't mean they're entitled to a dollar for doing their job.

John
 
Follow up on an earlier tip, this is for your protection, not others, never ever EVER leave your camera in the rinse bucket while the boat is moving. Housings work with o rings, and o rings work with compression at depth (one foot is sufficient). If your camera is bouncing around in a rinse bucket, there's no compression on the o rings, hence no protection from water.

I've seen many cameras flood this way.

Chris
 
SNOBORDJON:
I have only been on a boat dive once for the bottom scratcher, but my understanding was that tip was included. Thats one of the reasons it costs 95$ per person.
Is it that different from being on a sport fishing boat?
People dont tip the deck hands for helping them gaff their fish. They do if they fillet it for them, but thats about it, and you tip the galley person for the lousy ham and cheese sandwich.
If this is how it is supposed to be, I guess I will do it, but I want to get more feedback first.
Just because somebody makes your 5$ latte at Starbucks doesn't mean they're entitled to a dollar for doing their job.

John

Standard tip is usually around $5 per tank, or 15-20 per trip, usually ends up around 15-20%. Tips are not included in the charter rate.
 
I think it's best not to use too much logic when discussing tipping. Cause you'll soon find yourself in the Bizzarro world of illogical conundrums.

Do I tip ALL service personnel? Or just those who are getting minimum wage? Or maybe just those who don't serve us from behind a counter? So why the bartender, but not the kid behind the counter at McDonalds? And why not your doctor, who may provide one of the most useful services? Because he already makes good money? So should we take into account a person's income first? Ask for their most recent W-2? So am I tipping just to compensate for an employer who doesn't pay a decent wage? Why should I be responsible for cheap employers?

Or maybe it's for a job well done. Then why tip the waitress who takes my order and delivers the food? How often do you have a waitress who goes above and beyond? And what does that look like? She gives you more food than you order? Most of the time they forget to keep your drink filled. And if I'm tipping "To Insure Promptness", why pay after the service is performed? Shouldn't I give her a few bucks when I sit down?

Maybe it should be called a TPG ("To Prevent Guilt")...
 
Mo2vation:
* Say hi to Ann Marie. She won't say hi to you first.


Ken! I think I said, "Are you Ken?" when I first met you! I will admit, that I am a little quieter than others! Ahem! :wink:

I couldn't agree more with Ken when he says learn the crew's names! Be friggen polite, cause when I do get to know you, I'll push you off the boat if you're not! Slacker.... :11:
 
Ann Marie:
Ken! I think I said, "Are you Ken?" when I first met you! I will admit, that I am a little quieter than others! Ahem! :wink:

Its all good. It was a pleasure to meet you as well. :10:

---
Ken
 
mccabejc:
I think it's best not to use too much logic when discussing tipping. Cause you'll soon find yourself in the Bizzarro world of illogical conundrums.

Although we're likely hijacking this thing a bit.

Tipping is as much class/type of business focused, tradition, motivational and personality / attitude of the tippee as anything else.

The most important rules are the rules of civility, service and heart. I mean, at Panera (home of yummy grub) there is no tipping - its just not their business practice. But up the street at a Starbux, there is a cup on the counter. These businesses are very close - fast, hot drinks and sustaining breadfood sold through a chain store retail environment. One business embraces the practice, one doesn't. No biggie.

Tipping is really intended to motivate entry level or service associates to deliver snappy, sterling service. They're the front line and their performance reflects on the organization that employs them. Yeah yeah yeah... we all get that.

To me, it goes a little deeper. I tip people all the time:

* Tank monkey at Casino Point

* Housekeeper every night I stay in a hotel room

* The guy at the cab stand who hails my cab

* The Penguins chick that prepares my sundae just how I like it

And it goes on and on. Can it get out of hand? Sure.

But again, tipping is very personal. To me, the true measure of the tipper isn't what they give, its what they keep.

If I can budget into my Dive trip a $20 tip, but I only leave $15 so I can grab a bagel on the way home, I suck. If I'm stretching to leave $10 on a dive trip, but I'm leaving it with a good attitude and sincerely appreciate the service - but $10 is what I got this week... rock on!

Leaving a couple of singles on the pillow for the housekeeper each morning when I'm in a hotel isn't a huge deal for me - and I know she appreciates it, and it makes a difference to her.

To me, the attitude is as important as the dollars. If I feel I'm being gouged, got crappy service, and someone is there with their hand out, you get nothing. If you're working it, I'm going to cheerfully leave what I consider to be reasonable and motivating. I've never been on a SoCal dive boat that wasn't humble, discreet and very appreciative of a tip.

There are a zillion threads on this topic. This is important stuff.

---
Ken
 

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