TipsyMcStagger
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I completed my open water a few weeks ago with my LDS. After the pool dives, we were scheduled to have two days of boat dives. But day-one was rescheduled as a beach dive due to sea conditions. On day two, we did our boat dives and completed the open water certification. I noticed a placard aboard that read, "Crew works for tips." Prior to leaving the dock, tipping hadn't crossed my mind. After returning to the dock, I grabbed a $20 from my truck and gave it to the Captain, having no idea if this was "in the ballpark.". The other two professionals aboard the boat were the two instructors.
A few days after competing my OW, my LDS advised they are having a two day drive trip, led by my instructor. I figured this would be a good opportunity to continue my education in a somewhat supervised environment, so I signed up.
The trip is a few days away and we received an email indicating that the cost of the trip does not include "boat crew tips and trip leader gratuity." So, I searched SCUBA Board and see there are plenty of threads on tipping. Several threads advise simply asking the instructor about tipping etiquette, assuming the instructor has not already discussed this topic (mine had not). I contacted my instructor and asked what was proper etiquette. He replied, "it's just like your bartender...10%-20% of your boat charges, 10%-20% trip price for the trip leader and 10%-20% course price for the instructor."
I now feel quite awkward because my instructor's reply seems to imply that he anticipated a tip at the conclusion of my OW course. I honestly had no idea. In the early days of my career, I worked as a flight instructor earning $200 a week and never received or anticipated a tip. Tipping for a paid course never crossed my mind. I feel odd about this. In searching this forum, I see that many have written that they didn't tip their OW instructor and many OW instructors have written that they didn't expect a tip. But the reply from my instructor seems to indicate otherwise.
With regard to my upcoming weekend trip, I'm guessing I should anticipate tipping the boat crew for the two days (four dives) and a separate tip for my instructor, who in this situation is "the trip leader." The trip price includes one nights hotel stay and four tanks over two days on the boat. Is it really normal to tip a percentage of my hotel fee to the trip leader?
Confused.
Tipsy
A few days after competing my OW, my LDS advised they are having a two day drive trip, led by my instructor. I figured this would be a good opportunity to continue my education in a somewhat supervised environment, so I signed up.
The trip is a few days away and we received an email indicating that the cost of the trip does not include "boat crew tips and trip leader gratuity." So, I searched SCUBA Board and see there are plenty of threads on tipping. Several threads advise simply asking the instructor about tipping etiquette, assuming the instructor has not already discussed this topic (mine had not). I contacted my instructor and asked what was proper etiquette. He replied, "it's just like your bartender...10%-20% of your boat charges, 10%-20% trip price for the trip leader and 10%-20% course price for the instructor."
I now feel quite awkward because my instructor's reply seems to imply that he anticipated a tip at the conclusion of my OW course. I honestly had no idea. In the early days of my career, I worked as a flight instructor earning $200 a week and never received or anticipated a tip. Tipping for a paid course never crossed my mind. I feel odd about this. In searching this forum, I see that many have written that they didn't tip their OW instructor and many OW instructors have written that they didn't expect a tip. But the reply from my instructor seems to indicate otherwise.
With regard to my upcoming weekend trip, I'm guessing I should anticipate tipping the boat crew for the two days (four dives) and a separate tip for my instructor, who in this situation is "the trip leader." The trip price includes one nights hotel stay and four tanks over two days on the boat. Is it really normal to tip a percentage of my hotel fee to the trip leader?
Confused.
Tipsy