October 2003

Vol. 18, No. 10     What's this?

Thumbs Down

from the October, 2003 issue of Undercurrent  

Thumbs Down: Reader Mona Cousens (Santa Barbara, CA) was on the Belize Agressor in July and reports that "at the farewell meeting, the captain strongly suggested we leave a 15% tip per person for the crew. Is there any other place but the diving industry where someone politics the consumer for a tip. Can you imagaine a maitre d' in your favorite restaurant, the owner of your hair salon, or the manager of a hotel making such a request?"

No, I can't, but then we're talking big money here: With a full boat of 18, where the minimum rate is $2,095, that would be just about $315/person or $5,656, which could mean well over a grand for some crew members.