How Much Should You Tip for Scuba Diving?

Let’s talk about something that makes a lot of divers squirm: tipping.

No one ever explains it clearly. It's rarely mentioned before your trip. And once you’re on the boat, you're left wondering: Am I supposed to tip? How much? Who do I give it to? Is this even a thing here?

As a working dive instructor and guide, I totally get the awkwardness. I  get asked a lot “How much should we tip?” It’s always an awkward question to answer. On one hand, I get that people genuinely want to do the right thing. But on the other, it feels weird telling someone, yes, you should pay me more for the service I just gave you. I never want to make anyone uncomfortable or feel obligated. 

That said, tipping in the dive world can be genuinely confusing, especially when you’re bouncing between countries with different customs, expectations, and wage structures. So let’s clear the water a bit.

Tipping Depends on Where You Are

This is the big one, because tipping isn’t universal. It depends a lot on where you’re diving, who you’re diving with, and what country most of their customers come from.

In the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and many parts of Central and South America, tipping your dive crew is not just a nice gesture — it's a major part of how they make a living. In many of these regions, wages are so low that guides rely heavily on tips to get by. If you're diving in a location that caters to mostly American travelers or is run by an American shop, tipping is almost always expected.

In contrast, Europe, Asia, and Australia generally treat tipping as a bonus. Dive pros in those regions are more likely to be paid a proper wage. But that doesn’t mean tips aren’t welcome — they’re just not built into the culture the same way.

💡 Pro tip: If you're not sure what's expected, just ask. No one will be offended if you say, “Hey, is tipping a thing here?”

Who Are You Actually Tipping?

It’s not just the instructor or divemaster you interact with directly. There’s usually an entire team behind your experience:

• The boat captain or panga driver
  
  
• The tech filling your tanks
  
  
• The admin who handled your booking
  
  
• The person who scrubbed your wetsuit or fixed your leaky BCD
  
  
• The crew member who helped you climb back in after a long surface swim

Sometimes the tip goes into a shared pool and is divided between everyone — especially on liveaboards or in larger shops. Sometimes you’re expected to tip people directly. If you're not sure how it's handled, ask the staff or manager what the best method is.

If someone made a special impact — found your dream critter, stayed calm when you panicked, helped you re-clip your fin on a drift dive — feel free to thank them personally. A little extra goes a long way.

How Much Is Normal to Tip?

Let’s break it down by type of experience, since the answer depends a lot on what kind of diving you're doing.

🐟 Day Dives

• $5 to $10 USD per tank is common in tipping-heavy places
• For a typical 2-tank dive, $10 to $20 total per diver is solid
• If you had a great time and the guide went above and beyond, tip toward the higher end

📚 Courses (Open Water, AOW, Rescue, etc.)

• Course pricing rarely reflects how much time and energy instructors put in
• 10 to 20% of your course cost is a good guideline
• Remember, they’re not just diving with you — they’re prepping gear, reviewing theory, writing reports, and coaching you through challenges

🛥️ Liveaboards

• These trips involve around-the-clock service from guides, cooks, engineers, and crew
• 5 to 10% of the total trip cost is standard
• Some liveaboards give suggested amounts, but in general, crew tips are pooled unless you want to tip someone directly for exceptional service

When and How to Tip

Timing matters. If you’re diving with the same guide for multiple days, it’s totally fine to tip at the end of the trip. If your guide or crew changes every day, it's better to tip after each outing so the right people receive it.

Cash is king. Even in 2025, digital payments aren’t always possible in remote areas or on boats. Try to bring small bills (USD or local currency) and keep them in a dry bag or envelope so you’re not scrambling at the last minute.

Ask how tips are distributed. Some places have a communal system, others expect tips to be handed directly. Either way, your effort to ask will be appreciated.

What If You Can’t Afford to Tip?

This is something not enough people talk about. Diving is expensive. Between flights, hotels, gear, and park fees, not everyone has much left over. If tipping would put you in a stressful financial spot, that's valid.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t say thank you in other ways.

• Seriously, this can be huge. Some dive shops actually reward staff with bonuses or performance pay based on mentions in public reviews. It’s one of the best ways to give back without spending more money.
  
  
• Tag your guide or the shop in your photos on Instagram or Facebook
  
  
• Send a thank-you message or email directly to the shop
  
  
• Refer friends or come back to dive again
  
  
• Offer to share underwater photos or videos they can use for their marketing

Most dive pros aren’t doing this job to get rich. We do it because we love the ocean, love teaching, and love watching people fall in love with the underwater world. A kind word, a good review, and a little recognition go a long way.

The Bottom Line

Tipping in the dive world isn’t always black and white. But one thing’s for sure — dive pros work hard. We guide, teach, carry gear, keep you safe, find you sea turtles, and cheer you on as you conquer your fears underwater. A tip isn’t just money — it’s acknowledgment.

So if someone made your dive experience better, let them know. Whether it’s with cash, a compliment, or a shoutout online — it all helps keep this passion-driven industry going.

🐠 Bonus Tip: Want to learn more about scuba culture, eco-conscious diving, and what it’s really like behind the scenes as a dive pro? Check out other posts on Salinity Swimwear's blog