You might be one of those folks that has routinely scoured the fine print in your DAN Travel Insurance policy with a fine tooth comb, in which case you can skip this post. For the rest of you, read on and be forewarned.
First, for you skim readers, I am talking about DAN's travel insurance, not their dive accident insurance (which I carry without complaint).
While doing in-depth comparative research on travel insurance policies for a couple of upcoming dive cruises to the Caribbean and Polynesia, I was flabbergasted to find this unbelievable little gem in DAN's Travel Insurance policy that could bite you in the butt.
"GENERAL EXCLUSIONS
1. We will not pay for any loss under this Policy, caused by, or resulting from:
i. you or your Traveling Companion .. scuba diving below 120 feet (40 meters) or without a dive master,..."
What that means is that if you are on a dive trip, and are not diving with a dive master, and take a DCS hit or have other serious medical issues, you are going to lose all non-refundable travel expenses that you might have thought were covered.
Since this is a DAN affiliated insurance program for divers, I could not believe what I was reading, so I called both DAN and CSA (the travel insurance partner) to make sure I was not misunderstanding the policy. Sure enough, while DAN's dive accident insurance policy (if you have it) will cover those expenses outlined in the dive accident policy, but the DAN Travel Policy will not cover any of your lost/forfeited travel expenses if you are diving without a dive master or below 120ft.
Then the representatives of both organizations tried to tell me that is the way most policies are written in the insurance industry, to which I raise the red BS flag. Unfortunately they did not know that I had already checked the plan details for travel insurance policies from Travel Insured International (through USAA), Travel Safe, and AIG, the first three that I checked before calling DAN. Each of those three insurance companies had depth restrictions close to recreational dive limits, but only required a dive master if you were not a certified diver, restrictions I consider reasonable.
Personally, I found it absolutely absurd that DAN would sign on to such a travel insurance program, and intend to show my disgust by buying my travel insurance from an agency that does not penalize me for not diving with a dive master when one is not necessary or required for my certification status. Wake up DAN!
First, for you skim readers, I am talking about DAN's travel insurance, not their dive accident insurance (which I carry without complaint).
While doing in-depth comparative research on travel insurance policies for a couple of upcoming dive cruises to the Caribbean and Polynesia, I was flabbergasted to find this unbelievable little gem in DAN's Travel Insurance policy that could bite you in the butt.
"GENERAL EXCLUSIONS
1. We will not pay for any loss under this Policy, caused by, or resulting from:
i. you or your Traveling Companion .. scuba diving below 120 feet (40 meters) or without a dive master,..."
What that means is that if you are on a dive trip, and are not diving with a dive master, and take a DCS hit or have other serious medical issues, you are going to lose all non-refundable travel expenses that you might have thought were covered.
Since this is a DAN affiliated insurance program for divers, I could not believe what I was reading, so I called both DAN and CSA (the travel insurance partner) to make sure I was not misunderstanding the policy. Sure enough, while DAN's dive accident insurance policy (if you have it) will cover those expenses outlined in the dive accident policy, but the DAN Travel Policy will not cover any of your lost/forfeited travel expenses if you are diving without a dive master or below 120ft.
Then the representatives of both organizations tried to tell me that is the way most policies are written in the insurance industry, to which I raise the red BS flag. Unfortunately they did not know that I had already checked the plan details for travel insurance policies from Travel Insured International (through USAA), Travel Safe, and AIG, the first three that I checked before calling DAN. Each of those three insurance companies had depth restrictions close to recreational dive limits, but only required a dive master if you were not a certified diver, restrictions I consider reasonable.
Personally, I found it absolutely absurd that DAN would sign on to such a travel insurance program, and intend to show my disgust by buying my travel insurance from an agency that does not penalize me for not diving with a dive master when one is not necessary or required for my certification status. Wake up DAN!