Dive Trip Insurance: Dive Assure, DAN? Necessary?

[mediumone]

Does the DM have to be in the water with you? Cozumel is unusual; I hear that many (most?) other places if there is a DM s/he stays on the boat. What if you are shore diving, a la Bonaire?

Good questions.
I assume that would be a stipulation of the policy that I've purchased.
Should our travels take us elsewhere, I'd look for a policy that did not have such, and if I ended up with DAN, well....
I'd say to self, "Well, you got me, DAN", but boy oh boy, I'm one tenacious sob.

 

[Guitarcrazy]

Several years ago, I had a serious DCS incident in Cozumel. A week of chamber treatments and another week at the resort before I was cleared to fly. DAN (primary insurance) covered everything but the 8th chamber treatment (This was picked up by my secondary insurance, Allianz.). Even covered an upgrade to first class as recommended by my doctor.

Total cost was $60,000+.

My out of pocket was zero.

If you don't mind saying, what happened to cause the DCS?

 

[mediumone]

Does the DM have to be in the water with you? Cozumel is unusual; I hear that many (most?) other places if there is a DM s/he stays on the boat. What if you are shore diving, a la Bonaire?

I had a schedule change, so took a moment to search for insurers, using the aforementioned site, who did not place those stipulations in the policy.

There were a handful. Without putting some numbers in, I can't speak to the value, and the numbers would vary so much by non-refundable payments made.

A quick glance though, would suggest the same conclusion: DAN is not a good value.

 

[Gareth J]

A quick glance though, would suggest the same conclusion: DAN is not a good value.

How expensive is DAN in the USA?

It's only Euro 60 for the basic recreational cover, or Euro 90 for the Technical for the year, including Dan membership.
Which is dirt cheap, for a years cover. A single weeks travel insurance is £20 before I start.

 

[Dan]

How expensive is DAN in the USA?

It's only Euro 60 for the basic recreational cover, or Euro 90 for the Technical for the year, including Dan membership.
Which is dirt cheap, for a years cover. A single weeks travel insurance is £20 before I start.

$110/yr for me.

 

[AdivingBel]

Scuba diving is covered unless:

1) "the depth exceeds 130 feet or if You are not PADI or NAUI certified to dive and a dive master is not present during the dive", and:

Does the DM have to be in the water with you? Cozumel is unusual; I hear that many (most?) other places if there is a DM s/he stays on the boat. What if you are shore diving, a la Bonaire?

I read that as saying if you're not certified, you need to dive with a dive master i.e. allows for a discover scuba...

From reading the thread I can't tell if folks understand that diving insurance and trip insurance are two completely different things. They may be combined, but don't need to be. DAN offers trip insurance, but I don't find it to be a very good value compared to other alternatives. DAN dive insurance or something like it (Dive Assure??) is IMHO an excellent value and a must if you dive away from your home area. DAN is well connected with the dive community, physicians, and hospitals serving divers in many parts of the world. They are set up to make direct payments if you require treatment which is/can be quite costly. One incident can easily pay for years of premiums.

All IMHO, YMMV.

 

[Dan]

@outofofficebrb do you have any comments about this?

 

[mediumone]

I read that as saying if you're not certified, you need to dive with a dive master i.e. allows for a discover scuba...

From reading the thread I can't tell if folks understand that diving insurance and trip insurance are two completely different things. They may be combined, but don't need to be. DAN offers trip insurance, but I don't find it to be a very good value compared to other alternatives. DAN dive insurance or something like it (Dive Assure??) is IMHO an excellent value and a must if you dive away from your home area. DAN is well connected with the dive community, physicians, and hospitals serving divers in many parts of the world. They are set up to make direct payments if you require treatment which is/can be quite costly. One incident can easily pay for years of premiums.

All IMHO, YMMV.

You know, your reading of the clause my be absolutely correct, and I've been misreading it all this time.
I will call the insurer tomorrow, and post back.

I don't care what you call the insurance. Call it trip, diving or bunny rabbit, it doesn't matter. I only concern myself with the coverage/benefits.

 

[Gareth J]

I don't care what you call the insurance. Call it trip, diving or bunny rabbit, it doesn't matter. I only concern myself with the coverage/benefits.

The definitions are important. What is covered is the issue.
As a general rule, normal holiday (trip) insurance have very limited coverage for scuba diving. Most underwriters are ignorant on diving matters, at least in my limited experience. If insures can avoid paying out, they will.
In the past, I have had holiday insurance that would cover me for a 'try dive', or 'dive experience' with an instructor. But not as a diver.
I learnt to dive on holiday, as part of the course, we where required to have a specific insurance, because general holiday insurance was unlikely to provide sufficient coverage. It was a requirement to protect both student, and the school.

Another issue, this is an international site, so there are often noticeable differences between countries or territories. DAN are a good example, DAN Europe have different policies and restrictions to DAN USA (as someone has already pointed out). My Amex card is similar, I know my American friend has a totally different set of benefits with the 'same card' that I have with mine - especially around insurance!

I seldom dive with a guide, and hold a number of diving qualifications.
I am very aware that there are a number of people who find their 'all inclusive' travel insurance is anything but, when involved in a diving accident, a similar issue also arise for other sports. Therefore, for diving holidays I ensure I have a policy specifically provided by a diving insurance specialist. My sister does something similar with her riding holidays, although horse riding is far more dangerous than diving.

 

[AdivingBel]

I don't care what you call the insurance. Call it trip, diving or bunny rabbit, it doesn't matter. I only concern myself with the coverage/benefits.

LOL...make sure you pull the right bunny out of the hat or when you get hauled into an out of the way hyperbaric chamber for treatment, you could find yourself with a big out of pocket bill and left to fight with your insurance company when you get home. With DAN dive (not travel) insurance there is a good chance you'll never see a bill. None of this has anything to do with missing a flight, losing your luggage, a hurricane blowing your resort away, or a trip and fall in a hotel lobby.