Tipping your dive instructor

[EastEndDiver]

Isn't the logical recourse for any instructor who thinks he is under paid to raise their rate? Or does that bring up the possibility that potential students will go somewhere else because of a lower rate?

Expecting a tip as an instructor has never been something I ever considered.

I guess you can't have it both ways.

If an instructor thinks they are being under paid why not do something else,if you say you do it because you enjoy it,you like seeing a person breathe underwater,you like to see the enthusiasm in someone on scuba,etc.,etc.,etc.,then be happy with what you make.

It seems that with some instructors it is all about MONEY.

 

[BDSC]

It seems that with some instructors it is all about MONEY.

And it's usually pretty obvious who those folks are.

 

[oly5050user]

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.

It is not a failure on the part of the curricula, it has been proven that it works as thousands of people from age 10 on have easily passed it. It is on the student to succeed. If they fail to watch the video,read the text,do their homework, how is iit the instructors fault that they fail?
They pay for a course to be taught to them over a set period of time.They did not pay for certification, they must EARN it. If they cannot keep up with the rest of the class they should pay for any extra time they require to get it right. why should the instructor be penalized for a student who shows up unprepared or actually lies about their ability to simply be able to swim?
As to "first or second time mastery, the student hears and does same/similar skills at least NINE TIMES during a open water course , thats just for academics and pool. If they do not "get it" after that should they truly be diving?

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.

Most are priced at what the market will bear. If you sell a course for $500. and the guy 2 miles away sells same course for $250. where do you think people will go?

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.

Nothing wrong with putting maximum number of students in a class as long as you stay in standards on the number allowed and the facility has the space for them. You can love teaching and make money too.

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

We do.Its called private. Student picks day and time that works for their schedule. I have 24hour/7 day a week access to our indoor heated pool. I still get tips for this schedule.Usually at a much higher rate.

---------- Post added May 8th, 2013 at 08:42 AM ----------

Isn't the logical recourse for any instructor who thinks he is under paid to raise their rate? Or does that bring up the possibility that potential students will go somewhere else because of a lower rate?

Expecting a tip as an instructor has never been something I ever considered.

I guess you can't have it both ways.

If an instructor thinks they are being under paid why not do something else,if you say you do it because you enjoy it,you like seeing a person breathe underwater,you like to see the enthusiasm in someone on scuba,etc.,etc.,etc.,then be happy with what you make.

It seems that with some instructors it is all about MONEY.

It is a business..I have been teaching part time and full time since 1971...How many instructors pay for their insurance and stay active in teaching for that long if they are not making money at it?
You can find the joy in teaching someone to dive and make money at it at the same time. At the end of the day personal satisfaction does not pay the bills.
I have seen alot of good instructors quit teaching because it actually costs them money to teach people to dive.

 

[The Chairman]

Expecting a tip as an instructor has never been something I ever considered.

Me either. They are always nice though and again, it shows that I have usually exceed all expectations.

It seems that with some instructors it is all about MONEY.

I disagree. I think it's all about survival. Look at the hype used to get people to become instructors. It's all about "living the dream" and not about making a million dollars. That's what agencies and the instructor mills tell them. Unfortunately, they don't tell them that there is a glut of instructors and that the competition will be fierce. There's a couple of mills here in the Keys. Last year one of them churned out 99 OW instructors. Wow. They even won an award for that. Did we need 99 more instructors here in Florida? That shop certainly can't employ them all and in fact, I would imagine that well over half of them will do something else to make a living and becoming a full time Scuba Instructor will still be a dream that remains just out of reach. It's almost a pyramid scheme when it comes down to it. But even the Instructor mills aren't getting all that rich. They're just trying to survive too. The joke I posted about the difference between a Large Pizza and a Scuba Instructor is far more tragic then it is funny.

 

[oly5050user]

Me either. They are always nice though and again, it shows that I have usually exceed all expectations.

EXACTLY RIGHT..a gratuity is not expected, but always appreciated. Just be sure that you charge for any extra time that may be required so that the tip is not required to be able to pay your bills.

I disag

ree. I think it's all about survival. Look at the hype used to get people to become instructors. It's all about "living the dream" and not about making a million dollars. That's what agencies and the instructor mills tell them. Unfortunately, they don't tell them that there is a glut of instructors and that the competition will be fierce. There's a couple of mills here in the Keys. Last year one of them churned out 99 OW instructors. Wow. They even won an award for that. Did we need 99 more instructors here in Florida? That shop certainly can't employ them all and in fact, I would imagine that well over half of them will do something else to make a living and becoming a full time Scuba Instructor will still be a dream that remains just out of reach. It's almost a pyramid scheme when it comes down to it. But even the Instructor mills aren't getting all that rich. They're just trying to survive too. The joke I posted about the difference between a Large Pizza and a Scuba Instructor is far more tragic then it is funny.

So true. We currently have an IDC running here at the facility I teach out of (we are a 5 * IDC center) and I do not see where we will use any of them. If they bring people to the table to take a class of course we will have them teach that class. To be put on a schedule for classes I do not see that happening. Different story for those that can " bring something to the table" besides a owsi certificate.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Tipping an instructor for a certification class is not the usual, but if they go over and above the expected, if they did something of additional value ( retrieve a piece of gear, provide extra one on one time, schedule at a time other then what would be normal to accommodate you, etc) tipping is appropriate. It is an individual thing, and depends on the unique circumstances of each situation.
DivemasterDennis

 

[EastEndDiver]

Me either. They are always nice though and again, it shows that I have usually exceed all expectations.

I disagree. I think it's all about survival. Look at the hype used to get people to become instructors. It's all about "living the dream" and not about making a million dollars. That's what agencies and the instructor mills tell them. Unfortunately, they don't tell them that there is a glut of instructors and that the competition will be fierce. There's a couple of mills here in the Keys. Last year one of them churned out 99 OW instructors. Wow. They even won an award for that. Did we need 99 more instructors here in Florida? That shop certainly can't employ them all and in fact, I would imagine that well over half of them will do something else to make a living and becoming a full time Scuba Instructor will still be a dream that remains just out of reach. It's almost a pyramid scheme when it comes down to it. But even the Instructor mills aren't getting all that rich. They're just trying to survive too. The joke I posted about the difference between a Large Pizza and a Scuba Instructor is far more tragic then it is funny.

I agree about the "Instructor Mills" but shouldn't someone perform "Due Diligence" before embarking on a so called "Career choice".Everyone who sells something ,no matter what it is,will make claims that are un-true or exagerated to get people to buy. It is not just the "Instructor Mills" putting out instructors many individual instructors push their students to take additional courses leading to instructor,maybe they also need to be honest in the employement that will be available.I honestly think that a 50 dive "Divemaster" has no right "assisting" because they don't have the experience necessary but that's my opinion.I think a majority of DiveMasters do have their eye set on Instructor,maybe I am wrong but that's what I see.

I come from the Old School method of teaching which makes me a dinosaur now.I was instructor certified in the late 70's.

 

[WheelsUSN]

Last year one of them churned out 99 OW instructors. Wow. They even won an award for that. Did we need 99 more instructors here in Florida? That shop certainly can't employ them all and in fact, I would imagine that well over half of them will do something else to make a living and becoming a full time Scuba Instructor will still be a dream that remains just out of reach.

I was one of the 99 and I can't give you the breakdown of all of the classes but I can tell you what my class of 10 is doing now.

One stayed in the Keys and mostly teaches family and friends. He was already a Master Instructor but had been out of teaching status for several years so was really just doing an update, he is also helping with the IDCs now. His job as a commercial pilot supports his family very well.

I'm the only other one who stayed in Fl and I'm in north Florida teaching in Georgia. I am doing it part time, as I had planned all along, and have a military retirement that pays the bills.

Two of the guys already had jobs lined up teaching in the Caribbean and are still doing that.

One actually quit his full time job and is teaching full time in NYC. His original plan was to instruct part time but he was tired of his full time job and the shop he is working for has plenty of students to keep him busy.

Another opened his own shop in Kentucky and his friend that attended the IDC with him is instructing part-time in that shop.

One is a retired military officer, now working for a defense contractor. He gives private SCUBA lessons in the DC area and is happy teaching on his own schedule when he wants to do so.

One returned to college in Canada and I have no idea if he is currently teaching or not but I know he was offered a full time job and has family connections in the business that can probably get him employed pretty easily.

The 10th has returned to Illinois and I don't know if he is currently teaching but his family owns a dive shop in the Keys so I'm sure he has a job if he wants it.

I think that most of us had realistic views of our future as dive instructors. The only guys who were planning on doing it full time already had jobs lined up and most of the rest of us had part time jobs lined up but much better paying full time jobs or school that would be our primary focus.

 

[EastEndDiver]

So true. We currently have an IDC running here at the facility I teach out of (we are a 5 * IDC center) and I do not see where we will use any of them. If they bring people to the table to take a class of course we will have them teach that class. To be put on a schedule for classes I do not see that happening. Different story for those that can " bring something to the table" besides a owsi certificate.

I think this solidifies my point about individual instructors being part of the "Glut" problem.

 

[TMHeimer]

I agree that the hype/dreams agencies and instructor mills portray should be accompanied by a realistic employment picture. Also that folks should be responsible enough to look into that job market (it's certainly easy enough with the internet). If I had not taken Ed. courses and become a teacher-- and stuck with my plan to be a pro musician as a career I may still be washing dishes at age 59.