A Fair Tip On A Dive Boat for DM

[moneysavr]

Hi,
Any rules to leaving a tip for a DM on a dive Boat?My Wife had a stroke for me leaving a $20 spot for a DM For a boat dive I did,most times I pop a $5 to 10 for a dive charter if they have someone in water,But this Dive Master was a Great guide,Noticed a small problem on my set up prior to the dive,made no big deal of it and helped me fix it quick so I did not screw up the dive for others!
Just like to get a idea on other divers thoughts on tips,It is a service base job and like to be fair,
Brad

[Pillow]

I have not been on many guided dives. Most of our dives have been freshwater off of my boat. After I did my OW we went on a boat dive that I will always remember. I came back with a photo taken by the DM with my camera. The photo is mostly an octopus and part of my face. This is my all time favorite photo. I was new and not aware of tipping DM. I wished I had it would have been well worth the memory. In your case I think that you avoided some unpleasant memories.

I appreciate your post. I is a very timely reminder. I am going on a cruise the 11th. I will carry extra cash for tips.

[Henryville]

Hi,
Any rules to leaving a tip for a DM on a dive Boat?My Wife had a stroke for me leaving a $20 spot for a DM For a boat dive I did,most times I pop a $5 to 10 for a dive charter if they have someone in water,But this Dive Master was a Great guide,Noticed a small problem on my set up prior to the dive,made no big deal of it and helped me fix it quick so I did not screw up the dive for others!
Just like to get a idea on other divers thoughts on tips,It is a service base job and like to be fair,
Brad

I typically drop a 20 for North Atlantic dives, the DMs will often work pretty hard on those, tying the anchor into the wreck, helping divers in and out, noticing small problems, etc. Tropical dives, it varies depending on how mcuh they do and how well they do it but it would typically be more like 10.

I'm not hesitant to cut it back if the DM doesn't do a great job.

[sharkdiver00]

Agreed.... I have done the $20 per two tank boat dive if the DM was VERY good... I have also done the $0 when the service was not there at all. What I have seen lately in many places is an option to put money in an envelope at the end of a multi day trip and either mark it for specific DM's , or to be distributed by all at the operation... that way everybody who was involved in the good service gets something.

[Wildcard]

Just a thought here folks, would you consider the 20% for a restaurant tip too much? DMs and Instructors have much more training and responsability and overall make WAY less than a waitress. How much did you spent on your vacation? Your gear? And some of you don't think of tipping the hard working underpaid crew?.....Unless the service was real crap, Id say $20 is not at all excessive.

[Tom Winters]

When I used to work for dive shops in Honolulu doing charters, we almost never got tipped - it was a rarity to see an extra $5 or $10 dropped on the crew. I knew a guy though, who would stand up on the engine cover before the boat left and announce to the guests, "If's there's anything I can do for you let me know; because if you're not happy, then I won't get tipped." We had a nickname for him, and it was not a pleasant word, although I heard he did get tipped a lot.
Then when I started running my own charters, almost every day I'd have a couple give me an even $200 for two $80 charters. I never got used to that either - I couldn't figure out why all of a sudden, I was getting all this extra money dropped on me. Some weeks, I'd get an extra couple fo hundred dollars on top of the pile of dough I was getting for just the charter.
And a lot of time, this was after they tipped my divemaster or captain separately. They made out like bandits. Weird, but kinda nice in a fiduciary way
Maybe I was getting a different set of customers than the shops were or the people in the shop were keeping all the tips. Maybe a little of both. Another unsolved mystery of the deep.
When I dive on boats down here in Florida, I throw in $5.00 to the divemaster. They don't really do much besides handle lines and tie off - I don't require any assistance and they don't do much except provide the legal manning for the boats. They don't do gear setups or have food service - Florida boats don't seem to pay divemasters either and the DM's work for tips. I always paid my DM's so they didn't have to scrounge for tips. I'm not sure what the thrill is for divemasters in Florida then, although I guess maybe it beats working in Hardee's. Probably they'd make more at Hardee's too.
One time I need a wrench and an o-ring - the DM had it and he got a $20 tip. On the few lousy boats I've been on down here, I didn't have a problem stiffing the worthless crew, but then I worked in the industry for a long time and I know what they should be doing.
And $20 for a normal tip? Never have seen that in Florida, althogh every DM I talk to thinks it should be the law.

[reefraff]

No DM is in it for the money, but almost all of them will appreciate a little something extra. :07:

My generic tipping policy is that people who aren't being paid (or aren't being paid a reasonable amount) for rendering personal service to me should receive a token of my esteem. Waiters, cab drivers, etc., qualify for this honorarium, my doctor does not. Dive masters definitely fall into the "tip" category.

How much to tip them depends upon how much you value their service. As a general rule, I look to the DM to run the briefing, keep an accurate head count and set out the snacks - I figure this earns them about $5.00 per tank. Those that can spin a good tall tale and keep me entertained get a little more. If they hump your gear on and off the boat, help you get situated on the boat, help set up your gear, answer your questions, tie in the boat and generally work their flippers off for you, all before holding your hand during your dive, you should be tipping them more than I do.

[carbon]

Just a note...

I tend to shy away from the cattle boats, and use operators that go out in small groups. Small groups allow the operators to deliver more personal attention.

I use to tip $5 per tank, now I tip $20. I have tipped $40 when the service has been incredibly good. Of all the people I want to stay happily in business, it is good dive operators and good DMs.

Carbon

[squee!]

I typically tip about $5/tank. I think it is standard, not sure though. I have never asked a DM about tipping and what is considered appropriate.

An extra $40/tank is like a 100% tip! Maybe it depends where you are, but where I dive, it is typically $35/tank, so an extra $5 per tank is close to 15%.
maybe it's all relative. Beats me.

[carbon]

...
An extra $40/tank is like a 100% tip! Maybe it depends where you are, but where I dive, it is typically $35/tank, so an extra $5 per tank is close to 15%.
maybe it's all relative. Beats me.

Oops! I didn't mean to say I tip $20 or $40 PER TANK. I meant $20 to $40 per DAY.

If people tipped $40 per tank, I know what my new job would be!

Carbon