A tropical DM/instructor day does not start and end around the boat trip.I know how long the day can be for I was one...
I personally do not need their help but for all they do indirectly to make my day easier/fun they get a tip.
I'd like to follow on from this... and it's dependent on where and with whom your diving but a typical day for me at my last job goes like this:
- Wake up at 6:30 am and rock up to the shop at 7 am
- ensure all gear requirements are met
- plan dive teams and fix anything that isn't working
- haul a shedload of tanks onto a truck
- haul the same tanks - often 50 or more - onto a boat
- decide where to go based on conditions
- entertain people
- dive / instruct people
- help to prepare and serve lunch
- dive / instruct people
- entertain
- wash and pack every single piece of rental gear on the way home
- haul tanks off boat
- haul tanks onto truck
- get back to shop, complete paperwork if necessary
- 6 pm - dry and hang all rental equipment
- pump 60 tanks. Took about 2 hours with the compressor system we had
- mix nitrox if required
- 8pm - finish work and go for a beer or five
So that's almost a 14 hour day - for which, if you're lucky, you might get paid $100 (US). Oh and many DM's/Instructors will work a 10+ day week. At my old job, I got two days (non consecutive) leave per month.
So yeah, tipping is not required, but it's soooooo nice. I can't speak for other dive centres, but if you guys think we rock up in paradise and do a couple of fun dives every day, think again. Back in Thailand I did suggest (but not demand) that everybody tips the liveaboard crew - they are working for $10 per day.
Americans tip by default almost - because it's a way of life there - tip the barmaid, tip the mechanic, tip the bellboy, tip the dive instructor. Most of us work really hard for a poor salary - but then, many of us will settle for an ice cold beer after a long day's work!
On the other hand - we live and work in paradise so...!
Your call folks - and it's allllll good!
Dive safe,
C.