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Diving Bonaire: Dive Instructor - Help!
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2008-2009: Archives - 2008-08-01 to 2008-12-31: Dive Instructor - Help!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By dmac (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 10:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Last minute question folks. My family and I are completing the open water portion of our dive training tomorrow at one of the resorts and have had a great experience with our instructor. I wondered what suggestions others had for tipping him since he has professionally and cheerfully brought the five of us along. We certainly want to tip him but are unsure of an appropriate amount. Any and all suggestions welcome.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Davis, InfoBonaire, Bon. Insider (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #279) on Sunday, December 28, 2008 - 8:42 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh the low end, 10-15% of the course fee for all of you; for a regular tip for good service, 20-25%. If he gave exceptional service, anything over 25% will be appreciated.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mel Briscoe (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #305) on Sunday, December 28, 2008 - 9:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

At least some of the resorts encourage a single tip for the entire stay there, which they distribute through some formula so that people like tank-fillers are not left out. In those situations, I'd say the 10-15% of your resort cost is typical. If you've had special service from someone, for example the instructor, then you may or may not be able to direct a portion of that group tip to the special person. Of course, you can always just slip them something on the side, kind of "off the books."

The 10-15% Susan mentions, with maybe a $10 minimum, seems about right to me. The 20-25% seems a bit high.

Here's an interesting statistic: I'm a Master Instructor with tons of certifications and many repeat (read: happy) customers. I'm received maybe three tips for instructing. I've received a number when I was divemastering on a boat, but only the three for instructing. I think people often view their instructor as more of a mentor/teacher/professor kind of person, and not as a service position; so do I.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By dmac (BonaireTalker - Post #24) on Sunday, December 28, 2008 - 5:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks to you both. We were not resort guests, so our only contact was through the instructor. We simply did the Open Water component of our certification. The five of us had completely different comfort and experience levels coming in and our instructor was truly amazing. Your info was helpful and we will also be dropping off a case of his favorite adult beverage since that was how he "fined" us for errors (leaving an unaccompanied tank upright, etc.). Everyone learned quickly and no fines were levied the second day.

In any case, I appreciate the quick responses.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #234) on Monday, December 29, 2008 - 9:17 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

As an instructor, just OWSI, not an MI like Mel, I have never received tips. However as a diver on a boat or for guided shore dives like Town Pier and Salt Pier a minimum of $5 USD per person per dive is generally well accepted. At a resort I will leave a group tip in the group tip box but for certain good DM and instructor dive leaders I will hand them cash pesonally at the end of the diving day, boat trip.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Yo MO - Too much work - too little time (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4544) on Monday, December 29, 2008 - 4:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well I've received things like t-shirts, dive gear bags, knicknacks, art work and other tips for my instructing. But the most important "tips" I have ever recieved are the ones from my students when they ask for my advice of where to go next, what to buy, etc.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Davis, InfoBonaire, Bon. Insider (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #282) on Monday, December 29, 2008 - 5:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi folks, please just remember that the average dive instructor down here does only that for his living; in other words, he doesn't do it "on the side" while having another income (and I don't know if the same applies to any of the OWSIs who contributed above or not). Having said that, please also remember that many dive crews (boat staff or instructors--many are both) in the Caribbean make salaries far below that of the rest of the world, taxes are higher than in many locations, and many can afford the little extra luxuries just because of their tips. I remember this from personal experience, having been in that same position 17 years ago, and I can assure you that any monetary tip given to a dive instructor is definitely appreciated by the recipient.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1723) on Monday, December 29, 2008 - 5:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

susan,i agree, that's why dive instructors will lead night dives on their own after their regular work day is done. sure, they dive because they love diving but they take divers to the salt pier and town pier because it's an extra source of income.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By B-B-B-eck-k-k-k-k-eeeee (it's c-c-c-old) (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2134) on Monday, December 29, 2008 - 8:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I guess I tip well... when I came to Bonaire for the first time, I hadn't been diving in, well, ... a while. My 2 instructors went way above and beyond the call of duty to make me feel comfortable and "one of the gang" so I tipped about 50% of the cost of the course. But I don't expect everyone to do that, I followed my heart - my instructors were incredible and earned every penny on that trip.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By dmac (BonaireTalker - Post #26) on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 - 1:17 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Again, thanks to all. My thoughts in advance were along the lines of Susan's and Pat's above. I do not know what they get paid, but I know how expensive it is to live here and know that many of them guide after hours to make some extra cash. Our instructor was thrilled with what we gave him (about 10% of what the course cost me for our group) plus a case of Polar to pay off the "fines" from my gang. I delivered the case in a public way and thanked him in front of a group he was about to begin teaching and he was hugely appreciative. I agree that it is a personal thing, but he is happy, my family feels safe and secure in their skills now and I feel good too. Winners all around in my view. We soloed today at Andrea II and it all felt like second nature.
Cheers.

 


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