One question: how much should I pay for DAN dive insurance?
That would depend on which state you're in, which you've kept secret. It doesn't show on your posts anyway.
DAN Dive Insurance is essential, an involves two charges...
- Membership: $35/year, but you get a great magazine and support a great organization. It's not St.Dan, it's had some problems, but it's the best we have.
- Your choice of insurance plans. In some states you can get their old Standard plan, but don't. It sucks and it's only $10 cheaper than the next. I have asked about that and they tell me that enough still want that plan, and since it is a membership organization - they still offer it in some states anyway. They are making some updates, but each state has to approve.
I have less than 500 dives but I have seen 6 divers leave in ambulances. Crap happens. Two of those would not have survived if they had not had DAN to get them back to the states in expensive air ambulances. Diving is mostly safe with dangerous possibilities, and I don't want to scare you - if anyone should have been hurt, it'd be me with some of my mistakes, but if crap hits the fan, you want fast service and funding.
Shop here and sign up:
Scuba Diving Accident Insurance — About Scuba Insurance Programs — DAN | Divers Alert Network
I do the Master plan which is $40 I believe, it carries a lot more perks vs. the standard plan.
The Standard plan just sucks. You and I are in states with the same choices, and I took the Preferred plan. $35 more, but twice the benefits. It's a personal call, tho. How well do you want to be covered if things go bad? The Master plan is a pretty good choice.
I read about a old British diver who died in Australia recently, his wife with him on the trip, and she was in trouble trying to get his body back to the UK, trying to pay extra hotels expenses for her, trying to rebook her plane ticket with no help from the airlines, etc. Just sad.
As far as ATMs go, I avoid them by going to my local bank before leaving and just getting Pesos to take with me
You can, but my bank gives louse rates - and I don't want to carry too much cash around. My last trips have involved almost all expenses in USD so it didn't matter much, but that can vary.
On our first Coz trip we soon started taking cabs to eat dinner in town. The AI Occidental food was awful.
Oh gawd! On one group trip I mistakenly booked, we stayed at a popular southern resort - popular for its free bar mostly I think. The rest of my group took off after the morning dives to change, eat, and drink - but I had managed an afternoon dive, so I wanted to stay in my wetsuit. I went to the outdoor buffet and it was covered in flies! No one else seemed bothered, already drunk I guess, but I marched into the restaurant, wet suit and all, waiting for them to dare to say anything. They didn't.
On the other hand, I enjoyed Hot Cozumel when I could get a great AI rates. The food was fine with me, and I really liked the beachside cafe. At least it's not an expensive trip if you want to go to town.
Dive with Martin is much cheaper but they mostly have afternoon dives : <$300 ( includes 5 days dive+DM first day + gear)
That doesn't sound right. You're saying less than $300? Typing words is not that difficult to be sure you are clear.
DWM's website states $305 for a 5 day package. "Private" DMs are usually around $50 for a two tank trip. Makes me wonder if there was a communication mix up?
Plus 16% tax?
You're pretty much a new diver. I don't think you will notice much difference between any of these ops at this time. Personally, if I were in your fins, and money is an issue, I'd go with DWM.
Yep, I take my own gear, lights, tank testers, and everything, and I prefer 3Ps - but for him, I think DWM would be fine.
