HELP - Need insurance claim advice following scuba incident

[MountainGirl1980]

I have just received an email from SSI confirming they are not affiliated there either...seems like i'm screwed

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

You may contact him via his Instagram or Facebook account.
Saying that, and acknowledging that you don't want to harm anyone, is it not strange that he claims to be affilliated but is not?

 

[sea_ledford]

Not at all familiar with how UK insurance works, but the reason people are getting defensive is that although YOU may not want to place blame on the instructor or dive shop, your insurance company absolutely will.

Not to say that you aren't proceeding in the correct manner, or that the instructor not responding to emails is going to get them out of a lawsuit. But the lack of affiliation is certainly concerning.

 

[MountainGirl1980]

Thanks both, I was previously talking to him via whatsapp and he was very responsive but has just stopped. I am very concerned now he doesn't appear to be affiliated. SSI have sent him a very strongly worded email.

 

[tursiops]

Possible terminology confusion. "Affiliated" likely means the dive center....not the individual.
Both PADI and SSI can look up the individual and see if he is an actual instructor.

I just looked him up and he is no longer a PADI instructor. His number was 393676, and his credentials expired 31 Dec 2023.

I am not able to look up his status as an SSI instructor. But any SSI instructor can do that.

 

[Edward3c]

Thanks for your reply, the dive website is Centro de buceo en Menorca - Dive Center Menorca and the instructor is Alejandro Ramirez Carrero. I have been in touch with PADI who have confirmed they are not affiliated, the website refers to SSI ( not ISS ) so this is why I have now assumed this. My insurance policy is with Axa and I am covered under an instructor led dive up to 15m.

I’m sorry you had issues. Unfortunately you’ve taken diving insurance from a generalist insurer. They are renowned for using the small print, like exceeding the depth or not diving with a nationally qualified guide/instructor. I’ve read some of these policies and concluded that as an instructor I would still have to dive with a registered guide/instructor. Did you arrange the diving as part of your holiday in the U.K. or in country?

I’ve just noticed the dive op is in Spain. Spain has funny scuba rules that don’t make sense. One reason I’ve never dived there.

There are some specialist dive insurers in the U.K., but not of any use to you now.

 

[MountainGirl1980]

Something to consider. Get certified. Here's a few good reasons.

1- The intro dives are rather expensive. Given the amount of diving you do each year you've probably already paid for an entire certification several times over.
2- Being certified makes you more independent and knowledgeable, you won't be so dependent (or at all dependent) on an instructor, some of whom are obviously questionable.
3- Those intro dives are usually done in crappy locations because the operators know the students will be all over the place and will damage fragile (and pretty) coral reefs

Oh, and get DAN to cover any medically related incidents. The small premium is well worth the extensive medical benefits.

Unfortunately I won't ever dive again, by the time I surfaced I couldn't breathe and that sensation is not one I want to experience again. I've been checked over and told there is no reason why I couldn't dive again but I'm too traumatised.

 

[Wheeler925]

Unfortunately I won't ever dive again, by the time I surfaced I couldn't breathe and that sensation is not one I want to experience again. I've been checked over and told there is no reason why I couldn't dive again but I'm too traumatised.

To me it doesn't even sound like your problem was from the dive, unless you decided to breathe in a bunch of seawater. I certainly wouldn't give up diving based on pneumonia

 

[MountainGirl1980]

To me it doesn't even sound like your problem was from the dive, unless you decided to breathe in a bunch of seawater. I certainly wouldn't give up diving based on pneumonia

I took on the water at the surface in the panic, my lung was crackly and tight on the way to the surface and I was struggling to breathe. Not sure what caused that element

 

[lowwall]

Once you provided the insurer with the information required by the policy, which appears to be the name of the instructor and shop, it should be their problem, not yours.

I don't know how these things work in the UK, but there does appear to be formal process you can follow for insurance disputes over amounts less than £150,000 which won't require you to pay out for a lawyer.

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