While I am in the camp of not tipping an instructor, in this situation I would have done the same thing you did. Here we are talking about an instructor who spent an extra weekend helping you guys out and not a few extra hours of additional work in a pool. I would never recommend any instructor who wouldn't be willing to go the
extra mile to help out a student who is having difficulty by providing some extra pool time unless they get paid for such.
So you work for nothing at your job? If your boss tells you "hey, you have to work an extra 4 hours and by the way you are not getting paid, you would be happy about it? There is no free lunch..
T
he idea that because an instructor made the class fun or helped you set up your gear makes them worthy of a tip is ludicrous. Isn't scuba suppose to be fun? Shouldn't any instructor strive to make the call enjoyable for all who participate? If someone needs a little extra help getting in and out of the water would not most instructors worth their salt do so without expecting something extra?
Instructor strives that student learns skills and is safe.Fun is nice, but difficult if student is tired/cold/etc..All of which can be avoided if the instructor can have the class progress forward in a timely manner. As to assisting in and out of the water once student is shown how anything else is considered additionla service making the students experience easier.
When you walk in your LDS and have an instructor or shop owner help you select gear do you tip them for providing this service? Should we give them an extra 20% over the cost of the equipment as a tip?
Of course not..
When you take your regs in for service are we to add some extra amount for a tip as well?
depends..How messed up were the regulators? We have seen some so abused that it took 3 times as long just to clean them up enough so that it can be disassembled. Customer walks in at 6 pm and tells us that he needs it tomorrow so tech stays late and gets it done..should not there be appreciation shown for such service?
I'm all for tipping in the usual circumstances like the boat crew when out diving and stuff like that and I generally tip quite well and don't mind doing so. Of the four instructors I know very well and are friends with, all four will not accept a cash tip but if you want to buy them some wings and a beer, for that price they can be had!