what is the avg. tip you should leave????

[mathauck0814]

And there is part of the problem. I don't feel it is my duty to pay anyone anything for doing a good job for me. Silly me, but I have an expectation that if I use any type of service, be it diving or anything else, that I am going to receive good service or they are going to do a good job. Good service should be the norm. Why should anyone have to pay extra for good service. In the past, tips were to be given for excellent or exceptional service above and beyond what should be the norm. Tips were suppose to be earned, not expected. That seems to have changed.

What's really sad is that you feel it is peoples "duty" to tip others for simply doing a good job.

Think of your DM like a contractor that you've hired to provide a service for the day (Even if the only thing that person does is provide a warm body that fulfills the Coast Guards' requirement for number of crew on board). In most parts of the world (US included) they are not getting paid (remember that part. Zero, or close to zero pay) and are doing this "for the love of the game". You can elect to not tip them when they simply "do their job" and at some point they'll be forced to go do something else where someone will pay them. When that happens enough times you'll be left with whomever remains and the service will absolutely suffer.

Stop being cheap.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

In the US I tip $5 to $10 per tank base on level of service and if they worked to insure I had good dives.
Group dives where everyone ascends when the biggest gas hog runs out is not this (no or little tip)
Dives where they leave me alone within reason to enjoy my dive is tip top or they limit themselves to showing me cool stuff.

I screwed up a couple of times with countries where tipping is not kosher. I tend to bring presents instead (Asian tradition) to say thanks to my "host". You have to be aware of your location.

 

[BDSC]

and at some point they'll be forced to go do something else where someone will pay them.

What a novel idea. Find a job where someone will actually pay you to work. Join the club.

Stop being cheap........and just tip folks whether they deserve it or not

---------- Post added August 19th, 2013 at 01:04 PM ----------

I screwed up a couple of times with countries where tipping is not kosher. I tend to bring presents instead (Asian tradition) to say thanks to my "host". You have to be aware of your location.

Exactly. I have booked the NAI'A (entire boat) in Fiji for the spring of 2015. I have already been told that we are not to offer them tips as it would be an insult to them. It appears they have a "Christmas Fund" and at the end of the trip folks can leave money in that fund and it will be distributed at the end of the year to the staff.

 

[mathauck0814]

What a novel idea. Find a job where someone will actually pay you to work. Join the club.

You're missing the point - the expectation is that you, the receiver of the ride on the boat, will pay the divemaster to work. Try to think of it not as a tip but a wage that you're expected to pay.

In your world, you'd have the dive operator pay the DM a salary so that you'd not have to tip? Are you also willing to pay 20-30% more than the current charter price? The fact is that tipping is a more efficient way to do it. An employer has to make payroll tax payments on employees. Not so on a contractor. Whether the contractor claims their tips is entirely up to them, but when you turn something into a system and involve the government in the process costs will go up. Costs that get passed along to the customer.

Most of us prefer to handle these things efficiently and respectably. Besides, I can't believe anyone could be so principled about ~$20! Simply amazing.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Exactly. I have booked the NAI'A (entire boat) in Fiji for the spring of 2015. I have already been told that we are not to offer them tips as it would be an insult to them. It appears they have a "Christmas Fund" and at the end of the trip folks can leave money in that fund and it will be distributed at the end of the year to the staff.

Ya, I ran into the "Christmas Fund" concept in Asia in manufacturing plants. At first, I was wondering what the heck were the celebrating Christmas for. Duh, then I realized it was their way of doing bonuses. Tips are pretty close to bribes in some countries and offering one is telling your host you think he is taking graft. No something you want to do.

 

[GrandpaScuba]

At a resort-based Caribbean vacation, my standard tip is $5/dive for the boat captain, $5/dive for the DM, $5/day for housekeeping - clearly labeled "housekeeping" but handed to the hotel manager. At meals-inclusive resorts, $10/day in an envelope to the retaurant manager. In the case of housekeeping or the restaurant, there is no guarentee that the manager will distibute the cash equitably. But who else are you going to give it to? If you have a specific housekeeper or waiter that you interacted with regularly, you can pay them directly, part or all of the tip, depending on how exclusively they were your contact. Be sure to take a small supply of envelopes for the tips. Tips in US Dollars are usually appreciated.

On one Caribbean island, that will remain nameless, it is customary that the divemasters work for "tips only". So don't skrimp on the tip. On this island, I remember being told by a couple DM's, that when a divemaster has a boat of mostly Europeans, that the other divemasters that have mostly Americans will share their tips with them, because Americans tip a lot and the Europeans usually don't tip at all. (if you are European, don't shoot the messager. This is what they told us.)

It's been a few years since my last trip. So, the amounts above might be a little low, now.

 

[maniago]

If my colleagues and I accept tip that would be regarded as bribe.

I don't want to solicit a long discussion on this as I understand cultural differences, but if the tip is after you've done your job however you feel fit to do it AND its not solicited by the obvious Tip Jar, is it still a bribe?

 

[TMHeimer]

You're missing the point - the expectation is that you, the receiver of the ride on the boat, will pay the divemaster to work. Try to think of it not as a tip but a wage that you're expected to pay.

In your world, you'd have the dive operator pay the DM a salary so that you'd not have to tip? Are you also willing to pay 20-30% more than the current charter price? The fact is that tipping is a more efficient way to do it. An employer has to make payroll tax payments on employees. Not so on a contractor. Whether the contractor claims their tips is entirely up to them, but when you turn something into a system and involve the government in the process costs will go up. Costs that get passed along to the customer.

Most of us prefer to handle these things efficiently and respectably. Besides, I can't believe anyone could be so principled about ~$20! Simply amazing.

I get what you're saying about govt. and taxes. Of course, the DM is supposed to claim tips (I believe the gov't. figures that a big chunk of a waitress' salary is tips--not sure how they work that). A waitress does receive a chintzy base salary--something the charter owner doesn't pay the DM in most cases--so that could be considered being cheap. If the charter is independent of the shop, I'd assume the shop pays the Capt. and crew (but not the DM?). If the DM doesn't claim tips that's his decision and he must deal with it. Private music instructors (some who have other day jobs) often have 2 sets of books, as they don't claim all of their private lesson earnings --so I've been told. Of course, one must consider that on a given day, a DM may make very little in tips--who knows? As for paying more for a charter and not having to tip, I would go for that. I would expect good DM service anyway, but I am an idealist I guess. It also eliminates taking money on a boat or going to your car after the trip to get cash--perhaps the DM/crew think you are just leaving. Even with a higher charter fee to pay the DM, I would still consider a tip if the DM went far far and above his normal duties to give good service--such as directing me to the spot where the good shells are.

 

[Texasguy]

Anybody can help me for Fort Lauderdale, Florida? I'll have 2 tank excursions for 5 days (not live aboard). What is the rate there?

PS: In Cozumel everybody tipped $5-$20 for 2 tanks. Usually if a diver was only for a few days of diving, he would give a larger tip. More days of diving, the tip would be smaller. That what I learned from watching people tip. I gave $10 (was diving for 7 days). Most people gave $7-$10.

 

[rick00001967]

And there is part of the problem. I don't feel it is my duty to pay anyone anything for doing a good job for me. Silly me, but I have an expectation that if I use any type of service, be it diving or anything else, that I am going to receive good service or they are going to do a good job. Good service should be the norm. Why should anyone have to pay extra for good service. In the past, tips were to be given for excellent or exceptional service above and beyond what should be the norm. Tips were suppose to be earned, not expected. That seems to have changed.

What's really sad is that you feel it is peoples "duty" to tip others for simply doing a good job.

^^^ this guy wins !!! this says it all. i could not agree more