What to tip?
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jhelmuth
Contributor
It should be based upon the level of service expected, and then upon how far above expected that service was rendered.
Some boats do very little in the way of service. So you'd expect that they receive the lowest tips (or should anyway by comparrison). The other extreme is the "valet" style service, you dive, they do ALL the rest (and they'd deserve the best tips). So I'd range my tips from 5% - 25% of the cost of the dive charter (and maybe no tip if things are truely aweful). Typically, I'd do 10% for what I'd call a "standard" level of service: They load the boat, they unload the boat (except for personal bags), they change over tanks, they provide water and a carbo-type snack at surface intervals, a minimal dive breifing is held, and they take your fins from you as you exit the water back onto the boat. Nothing more - nothing less. Then there are the "valet" types: (all the above +) a DM goes in to insure all is well below and to assist as needed, your gear is brought to you as you sit on the back platform and is doned on a comfy bench, dive tips are offered from the DMs, camera and video gear is well cared for, they proactively seek out to assist in helping divers improve their skills and answer questions from the divers, SIT snacks are upgraded and plentiful, any first aide is quickly attended to (including mild stings, etc), stories and humor are abundant, and they truely work hard to make you feel like you are important and that this is the best dive you've ever been on.
Some boats do very little in the way of service. So you'd expect that they receive the lowest tips (or should anyway by comparrison). The other extreme is the "valet" style service, you dive, they do ALL the rest (and they'd deserve the best tips). So I'd range my tips from 5% - 25% of the cost of the dive charter (and maybe no tip if things are truely aweful). Typically, I'd do 10% for what I'd call a "standard" level of service: They load the boat, they unload the boat (except for personal bags), they change over tanks, they provide water and a carbo-type snack at surface intervals, a minimal dive breifing is held, and they take your fins from you as you exit the water back onto the boat. Nothing more - nothing less. Then there are the "valet" types: (all the above +) a DM goes in to insure all is well below and to assist as needed, your gear is brought to you as you sit on the back platform and is doned on a comfy bench, dive tips are offered from the DMs, camera and video gear is well cared for, they proactively seek out to assist in helping divers improve their skills and answer questions from the divers, SIT snacks are upgraded and plentiful, any first aide is quickly attended to (including mild stings, etc), stories and humor are abundant, and they truely work hard to make you feel like you are important and that this is the best dive you've ever been on.
jhelmuth
Contributor
TIP, BTW means "To Insure Promptness"
damsel
Registered
Hmmm... standard tips? Precious gems. Stock options. Maseratis. Small private islands. Deeds to high-producing gold mines.
...kidding, kidding ^_^
Base it on the amount you're paying total for the dive and how helpful you find the staff. Thank you for being awesome and planning to tip your crew - as long as they deserve it, of course. Very often people don't even think of tipping, even when excellent service is provided, assuming it's included in the dive. It's not, and tips really are where a lot of people working in the business make their money. So yay for cool divers like you, and have a great time!
...kidding, kidding ^_^
Base it on the amount you're paying total for the dive and how helpful you find the staff. Thank you for being awesome and planning to tip your crew - as long as they deserve it, of course. Very often people don't even think of tipping, even when excellent service is provided, assuming it's included in the dive. It's not, and tips really are where a lot of people working in the business make their money. So yay for cool divers like you, and have a great time!
I agree with the other posts already. It depends on how helpful they are and how much you're paying for the trip already. Also, think about whether it's just one day of diving or multiple days with the same crew. If you're doing multiple days of diving, and you have the same crew, you can let the captain know that you'll be tipping at the end of the trip, and the captain will make sure to let the DM know to expect it after your trip is over.
Also, when I go with a group, we generally collect a tip together and then give it to the DM as one lump. We always have one person in charge of rounding everyone up and that way we make sure they get a decent tip.
Just my two cents
Hope you have a good trip!!
Also, when I go with a group, we generally collect a tip together and then give it to the DM as one lump. We always have one person in charge of rounding everyone up and that way we make sure they get a decent tip.
Just my two cents
Hope you have a good trip!!flounderboy
Guest
i normally give 5 a drop
Unless its a all day thing with only 3 drops
then i give more
we spend tons on gear,,Its nice to have good folks to deal with on the boat
Dive safe
Mark s
Unless its a all day thing with only 3 drops
then i give more
we spend tons on gear,,Its nice to have good folks to deal with on the boat
Dive safe
Mark s
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As others have said, tipping is a personal matter. Below is an item I wrote that may give you a general orientation to the issue. It's edited and updated version of a piece which appeared in the "Ask RSD" column of the Oct '99 of "Rodale's Scuba Diving" magazine:
"How much, when and whom do I tip on a day dive boat?
As with tipping in other situations, dive boat gratuities are a personal matter, although local customs should be respected. For example, tipping is not yet customary in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other countries.
In many locations, including the US, Mexico and greater Caribbean, however, it does seem generally agreed that tipping for good service on a dive boat is appropriate. Keep in mind that some crews derive much, and occasionally nearly all, of their income from gratuities, regardless of whose fault this is. Repeat customers of a dive op can well vouch for the value of recognition of crew effort.
For those interested in tipping, guidelines for day dive boats include: (1) Gratuities are just that, something given voluntarily and beyond obligation for a service rendered. They are not mandatory; (2) An appropriate amount is somewhere between 10-15 percent of the cost of the diving expenses, not including gear rental, park or chamber fees, and other incidentals. This amount should be adjusted so as to fit the level of service, with a range of 0 to 15 percent being acceptable, although some generous divers do leave more; (3) In most situations, you need tip only one crew member, often the DM who primarily attended you. The tip will be shared among the crew according to their internal agreements. If a particular crew member rendered a special service which was above and beyond the call of duty, e.g., brought a piece of his personal gear from home for your use, cleaned up after you following an episode of sea sickness, etc., then an individual gratuity could be justified; and (4) If your crew changes every day, tips will probably be most fairly shared if given daily. If your crew is stable and you desire to consider tips at the end of the trip, let the DM know. Of course, human nature being what it is, the immediate rewards of a tip at the end of each diving day may result in the best service.
Finally, if in doubt about tipping, ask around. Local divers can tell you about their customs, and the consensus of your fellow divers will give you a good idea of what is appropriate."
That having been said, a tip of $5-7 per dive almost always leaves everyone happy.
Stay on good terms with the boat crew.
DocVikingo
"How much, when and whom do I tip on a day dive boat?
As with tipping in other situations, dive boat gratuities are a personal matter, although local customs should be respected. For example, tipping is not yet customary in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other countries.
In many locations, including the US, Mexico and greater Caribbean, however, it does seem generally agreed that tipping for good service on a dive boat is appropriate. Keep in mind that some crews derive much, and occasionally nearly all, of their income from gratuities, regardless of whose fault this is. Repeat customers of a dive op can well vouch for the value of recognition of crew effort.
For those interested in tipping, guidelines for day dive boats include: (1) Gratuities are just that, something given voluntarily and beyond obligation for a service rendered. They are not mandatory; (2) An appropriate amount is somewhere between 10-15 percent of the cost of the diving expenses, not including gear rental, park or chamber fees, and other incidentals. This amount should be adjusted so as to fit the level of service, with a range of 0 to 15 percent being acceptable, although some generous divers do leave more; (3) In most situations, you need tip only one crew member, often the DM who primarily attended you. The tip will be shared among the crew according to their internal agreements. If a particular crew member rendered a special service which was above and beyond the call of duty, e.g., brought a piece of his personal gear from home for your use, cleaned up after you following an episode of sea sickness, etc., then an individual gratuity could be justified; and (4) If your crew changes every day, tips will probably be most fairly shared if given daily. If your crew is stable and you desire to consider tips at the end of the trip, let the DM know. Of course, human nature being what it is, the immediate rewards of a tip at the end of each diving day may result in the best service.
Finally, if in doubt about tipping, ask around. Local divers can tell you about their customs, and the consensus of your fellow divers will give you a good idea of what is appropriate."
That having been said, a tip of $5-7 per dive almost always leaves everyone happy.
Stay on good terms with the boat crew.
DocVikingo
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