Tipping your dive instructor

[The Chairman]

I love getting tips and no, it's not just the money. It means that I have succeeded in exceeding expectations. Elena got an awesome tip in the form of a portrait from one of her younger students. It sits in a frame and graces our wall. We love that more than just about anything. Our favorite tip is our Cookie Jar made from an AL80. Both of these tipped generously in cash as well, but it's really the thought that counts.

Mind you, I can usually tell when a client feels obligated to tip when they don't really mean it. No offense, but I give those to the captain and crew as I don't want to even touch it. I've only had to do that twice and I don't let the client know about it either.

The best thing you can do for your instructor when they do a great job is to post about them here on ScubaBoard. Really. Word of Social Media beats out Word of Mouth a thousand to one. Reward them with your kind and glowing words and be sure to send them a link so they can enjoy it. Here's Elena's latest tribute by her students:

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[TMHeimer]

Our Dm's that assist with ow training dives usually make out well. I have seen them get as much as $250. in tips on a typical weekend at Dutch springs. Of course the instructors advise the students to do so and that it is the right thing to do.



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$250 in tips for one weekend for assisting--Wow! We get paid decently by the shop, but never any tips that I've seen. If you ever need an extra DM I'll be there again in July! Haven't yet been to Dutch Springs either.




---------- Post added May 7th, 2013 at 08:23 AM ----------

 

[LawyerScubaGirl]

We have written glowing reviews for our dive shop on Trip Advisor. They preferred that we do it there. They said if we felt we had a good experience to please write a review on TA. So we did! I will write one here as well.

I have found this discussion very illuminating and I really appreciate everyone who has chimed in. The rules of tipping in general are quite interesting and many of you have made good points for/against tipping.

Question - in terms of tipping the dive instructor, if you are FOR tipping them, does it make a difference if they also own the dive shop? I know for some people, they do not tip the owners of shops (hair salons, etc.), but they will tip people who work there. Thoughts?

 

[BDSC]

We have written glowing reviews for our dive shop on Trip Advisor. They preferred that we do it there. They said if we felt we had a good experience to please write a review on TA. So we did! I will write one here as well.

Like Pete mentioned, that will do more for the shop and instructor than any tip amount you could ever give. Most folks won't take the time to write a review so thumbs-up for doing so.

 

[AaronRiot]

I didn't tip for my OW course at all, but I had no idea at that time that tipping was common practice. In retrospect I wish I had of, the class was excellent.

I took a drift specialty locally and was thoroughly unimpressed with the "instruction". I did not tip a dime.

However, I did for AOW. Carlos at Dive Paradise in Cozumel was excellent. I got one on one instruction and he went out of his way on more than one occasion. For two days of pretty much private lessons I tipped as much as I could afford out of my extra trip cash, which was substantial in comparison to the cost of the course. I felt it was well deserved.

 

[kensuf]

My students usually tip me in a post-class six pack, or cookies. Maybe that's why I'm getting fatter.

In all honestly, I don't teach for tips. I teach to see the look on their faces the first time they breathe from a regulator underwater.

 

[oly5050user]

Our Dm's that assist with ow training dives usually make out well. I have seen them get as much as $250. in tips on a typical weekend at Dutch springs. Of course the instructors advise the students to do so and that it is the right thing to do.




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$250 in tips for one weekend for assisting--Wow! We get paid decently by the shop, but never any tips that I've seen. If you ever need an extra DM I'll be there again in July! Haven't yet been to Dutch Springs either.

Sorry, but we have enough of our own dm's..


---------- Post added May 7th, 2013 at 08:23 AM ----------

---------- Post added May 7th, 2013 at 09:01 PM ----------

The instructor is getting paid too. You make it sound like he's a volunteer at the soup kitchen. He's not getting paid by the hour in most cases, he's getting paid per diver. So, if this diver takes a little more effort than that diver, it's all part of the service.

Yes the instr is getting paid..If he is paid per diver and has to spend extra time with someone that lowers his per hour pay. He is usually paid so little that it is very often close to minimum wage.Spend more time with someone and it is below minimum wage..It is not part of the service to work for next to nothing..

 

[ajduplessis]

Here is a tip. Don't put your hand in boiling water

I see both sides of the coin but will not tip an instructor. I will however, if the service exceeded my expectations take more courses from him, or at least endorse/refer him as instructor to everyone I meet. Instructors should work tips into their packages like may restaurants (total bill) do these day. If you are good, clients will come back and refer others.

I did not tip any professors if they presented awesome lectures. Tipping should be outside of education, or not a visible cost IMO.

 

[Abdullah]

---------- Post added May 7th, 2013 at 09:01 PM ----------


Yes the instr is getting paid..If he is paid per diver and has to spend extra time with someone that lowers his per hour pay. He is usually paid so little that it is very often close to minimum wage.Spend more time with someone and it is below minimum wage..It is not part of the service to work for next to nothing..

The fact that not all students meet the cookie cutter curricula is a failure of the curricula, not of the student who has to see something a few extra times to master it. The student shouldn't be required to pay extra to make up for a curricula that expects first or second time mastery.

The problem isn't students tipping, or the quality of instructors teaching (necessarily). The problem is that you're course price isn't set sufficiently high to pay you what you want to make for the level of attention you want to give to your students. Some instructors put the maximum number of students in their class to make up in volume what they're not getting in price. But for those who really love the teaching, having a couple students is more rewarding, but doesn't pay a living wage.

Maybe instead of expecting a tip, you offer a premium low student ratio (one on one?) service at a higher price.

 

[The Chairman]

But for those who really love the teaching, having a couple students is more rewarding, but doesn't pay a living wage.

What's the difference between a Scuba Instructor and a Large Pizza?

Spoiler

The Large Pizza can feed a family of four!