DAN vs. DiveAssure (or, why does everyone seem to love DAN so much?)

[Pressurehead]

Two big things keeps me on DAN and not Dive Assure:
(1) my age (their coverage stops at age 75)

Well that's me done this year with them as well, I will confirm that.

Well that is confirmed I am out this year.
From DiveAssure:

belinda@diveassure.com​	3 Jan 2025, 17:24 (15 hours ago)
to me

Hello Bob,

Unfortunately, you can’t renew after your turn 75 as our plans are only available to any person between the age of 8 years and having obtained the age of 75.

 

[tursiops]

Well that is confirmed I am out this year.
From DiveAssure:

belinda@diveassure.com​	3 Jan 2025, 17:24 (15 hours ago)
to me

Hello Bob,

Unfortunately, you can’t renew after your turn 75 as our plans are only available to any person between the age of 8 years and having obtained the age of 75.

But the GOOD news is you are still diving at 75. Right on!

 

[Bigbella]

I have had DAN coverage since 1992; had used them for a couple of dive-related incidents during that time; and received immediate and necessary scans and medical care through them, after a single toll-free call, while my then health insurance (United Healthcare, heh, heh) took some eighteen days to eventually approve those, presumably, urgent diagnostics, which had already been performed . . .

 

[Brodydog]

Unfortunately, you can’t renew after your turn 75 as our plans are only available to any person between the age of 8 years and having obtained the age of 75.
[/QUOTE]

So they will cover an 8 year old but not a 76 year old. Oh ok Dive Assure.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Trust. DAN has been here longer and has done so much over the years for divers. They were there when friends had problems, and they were there when I broke my leg in Fiji. In over 50 years of diving, I've never been bent, mostly because I follow their recommendations, and am conservative as hell.

To reiterate: I trust DAN with my life.

Amen. I’ve been a proud DAN member for 20 years. I’ve seen what they’ve done for the global diving community to promote safe diving. Where has DiveAssure been? What have they done to support and promote safe diving? I honestly have no clue who the heck they are. DAN I know. That’s why so many of us trust DAN and don’t choose our dive accident insurance provider simply to save the cost of a fast food dinner for two.

 

[Pressurehead]

It's a shame DAN was so hard to contact in Australia, I gave up on them some years ago, now to find out if their commutation has improved. Edit: Rejoined DAN, it said "Welcome back Robert ", I was only called that when I was in trouble.

 

[Tracy]

I stick with DAN as most of my diving is within the US. DiveAssure only covers abroad.

 

[Kendall Raine]

I have used DAN for dive medical for 35 years. It’s been fine with no claims. Half my diving is in the US. The magazine is pretty good and got a lot better years ago after new management.

I’ve used both DAN and DiveAssure for foreign travel insurance and prefer DiveAssure for that. Their LoB coverage options are much better. DAN travel is through third parties (e.g. AIG, Generali).

Have found customer support also better with DiveAssure travel.

Of note is DiveAssure is primary coverage and DAN is secondary. Since I’ve never had a claim I don’t know if this really matters, but always have an AMEX card with me in case.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I switched from DAN to DiveAssure some time ago.
The reason being, I could not contact DAN from Australia about an issue I wanted to talk about, it was just too hard.

When my wife and I were on a liveaboard and she got what we suspected were skin bends, the crew called DAN Australia. The DAN medic listened to her signs and symptoms and said it didn't sound like skin bends, and that was the end of the call. An hour of O2 cleared up the rash on her abdomen, etc. I later asked here on SB whether it sounded like skin bends, and several people said "those sound exactly like common signs and symptoms of skin bends!" She got tested for a PFO, realized that several previous times when she had similar episodes it was probably skin bends, had the PFO closed, and hasn't had an episode since. I trust DAN here in the US, but that experience left us wondering what is going on with DAN Australia.

 

[The Chairman]

Where has DiveAssure been?

I don't know, but I believe they've done something. I really have no animosity towards them, but I have nothing but loads and loads of gratitude for DAN. They are indeed awesome.