Dive incident in Cozumel March 27, 2015

[scorpiofish]

My wife and I were certified a year ago when she was 54 and I was 58. We love diving so much we were initially sad we waited so late in life to start. We expected we would be the oldest divers where ever we went on dive trips. We've been on about 50 ocean dives in the last year and we have never been the oldest on the boat. On a recent trip we were actually the youngest by several years on some days!

Friends have asked us about increased risks at our age....my wife replied before I could, "if we die we die doing what we love". As a physician I realize that despite the fact that we are both in great health that we are at additional risk to younger folks but the reality is we never know when our number is up. I have a patient who had a major heart attack at age 31. He was a marathon runner and had perfect blood pressure and lipids before his MI. His cath was normal except for one congenitally compromised artery. You never know.

I was 33 when I took my first dive. Of course I wish I started earlier. I think everybody does. Even after 1500+ dives, I still wish I had started earlier. You just accept the elevated risk and do everything you can to mitigate it. While almost all who die of a cardiac event are older, not many older divers have cardiac events. I've had the pleasure of diving with some Hall of Fames divers who older than I. I figure if they can keep doing it, so can I. While I a fit for my age, I am not the same diver I was back in the day. I gave up instructing about 6-7 years ago. One minor reason was the knowledge I couldn't do some of the save scenarios I once did. A couple of years ago in Komodo, a diver needed help. I was about to take off to help when the DM tapped me on the shoulder and told me to stay put. He then took off faster than I ever could. I let him. We are now into very low stress diving.

So, everyone keep yourself in shape, get yourself checked (stress EKG), stay shallow and always use sunscreen.

 

[Skittl1321]

DAN dive insurance probably wouldn't pay much for either a SCA or MI as those are medical events.

If the medical event happens in the water with gear on, does DAN really not consider it a dive accident?

 

[Yarbrough]

If the medical event happens in the water with gear on, does DAN really not consider it a dive accident?

Totally depends on the situation surrounding the event and the policy that you purchased, my best advice is read the fine print in your policy, and if you have a question about it then call.

Scuba Diving Accident Insurance

 

[Bubbles below]

I purchased Dan premium plan for the family and it's includes other sports beside diving. My girls are into competitive cheer and skiing, but not diving. I still put them on the plan for a secondary insurance, it's the premium and policy you choose.

 

[DandyDon]

I purchased Dan premium plan for the family and it's includes other sports beside diving. My girls are into competitive cheer and skiing, but not diving. I still put them on the plan for a secondary insurance, it's the premium and policy you choose.

Hello,

DAN has a Trip plan called Premium, that covers one trip. It's not very competitive really, but I don't think that's what you're talking about...??

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

I purchased Dan premium plan for the family and it's includes other sports beside diving. My girls are into competitive cheer and skiing, but not diving. I still put them on the plan for a secondary insurance, it's the premium and policy you choose.

Now I am curious - how does Dive Insurance cover non-diving activities? You may want to call DAN and ask - because I am pretty sure it does not cover Cheer and Skiing.

Who is covered on my family membership?

A family membership will cover you, your spouse or cohabitant and all unmarried dependent children under the age of 18, or under 24 if a full-time student at an accredited school or college, who is not employed on a full-time basis and has the same permanent home address as the parent. Family members must be listed on the membership record in DAN's database to have access to membership benefits.

Remember this is Dive Insurance - not sure it covers all sports related injuries...

Found some small print but never used it..
Nondiving Accident Medical Insurance
(Available only with the Guardian and Preferred Plans)
If an Insured Person incurs charges for treatment of Injury due to a
nondiving Accident that occurs outside his or her Home Country,
and is at least 50 miles / 80 km from the primary residence, United
States Life will pay the benefits described below subject to the terms
and limitations.
Covered Charges
means eligible charges that are for Medically
Necessary services, supplies, care, or treatment for such Injury. The
accident must occur while Coverage is in force and while the Insured
Person is on a Trip that is more than 50 miles / 80 km from his or her
primary residence and for recreational purposes only. The charge
incurred as a result of the accident must be incurred within 365 days
of the accident.
Such services, supplies, care or treatment must be prescribed,
performed or ordered by a Physician and include medical, surgical,
and emergency dental care, professional nursing, hospital, X-ray,
ground ambulance services and prosthetic devices. Charges for
such services, supplies, care or treatment must be Reasonable and
Customary. United States Life will not pay for charges in excess of
the maximum shown in the Certificate Schedule.
Medical Expenses for Injuries from a Named Water Sport
(Available only with the Guardian Plan)
When we receive due proof that the Insured has incurred charges
for treatment of Injury due to an Accident involving a Named Water
Sport, we will pay the Covered Charges described below subject to
the terms and limitations. Covered Charges means eligible charges
that are for Medically Necessary services, supplies, care or treatment
for such Injury. The Accident must occur while:
1.
coverage is in force; and,
2.
the Insured is on a Trip exclusively for recreational purposes;
The charges incurred as a result of the Accident must be incurred
within 365 days of the Accident.
Medical services, supplies, care or treatment must be prescribed,
performed or ordered by a Physician and include medical, surgical,
and emergency dental care, professional nursing, hospital, X-ray,
ground ambulance services and prosthetic devices. Charges for such
services, supplies, care or treatment must be Usual and Customary
and we will not pay for charges in excess of the maximum benefit
shown in the Schedule of Benefits.
NAMED WATER SPORTS means
1.
Boating
is a leisurely activity which involves the act of operating
or riding in or on a boat, which is docked or on the water, for
the pleasure of the travel itself. Includes: Canoeing, Cruising,
Kayaking, Row boating and Sailing (as defined below), but
excludes Fishing.
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of
canoe. Open canoes may be “poled” (punted), sailed, “lined”
and “tracked” (using ropes) or even “gunnel-pumped.”
Cruising
is a leisurely activity which includes a cruising sailboat.
Such boats possess the functionality and amenities of a second
home, making extended voyages feasible and comfortable.
Cruising does not include a Cruise Ship.
Kayaking
is a sport or activity where people use kayaks to
paddle across the water. The various types of kayaking are
defined by the type of waterway that is maneuvered across in
the kayak. There is typical kayaking that is done in canals, rivers,
streams, and other mainly stagnant waterways. Whitewater
kayaking involves taking a kayak down rapids. Ocean kayaking
involves paddling in ocean waters and can include trips that last
for days at a time.
Row boating
is a sport or activity using a row boat. A row boat
can be any boat designed to be powered by oars.
Sailing
is the act of operating or riding in or on a boat whose
primary means of propulsion is the wind filling sails on the boat.
2.
Behind the Boat Water Sports does not include Parasailing
A.
Waterskiing
is the act of standing on two skis, one ski (slalom
skiing) or bare feet while moving across the surface of water.
Participants hold onto a tow rope or cable and are pulled by
a boat, other watercraft (such as a personal watercraft) or
mechanical device such as a winch. Participants may start
in the water or out of water, as on a dock or beach.
B.
Wakeboarding
is the act of standing on a wakeboard,
attached to the feet with bindings, while moving across
the surface of water. Participants hold onto a tow rope
and are pulled by a boat, other watercraft (such as a
personal watercraft) or mechanical device such as a winch.
Participants may start in the water or out of water, as on a
dock or beach. Wake skating is a variant of wakeboarding in
which the board does not have bindings.
C.
Wake Tubing
is the act of riding in an innertube or other
in
fl
atable object towed behind a boat or other watercraft
(such as a personal watercraft) or by a mechanical device
such as a winch. Participants may start in the water or out of
water, as on a dock or beach.
3.
Surfing
is the act of riding breaking waves using a surfboard.
A participant generally sits on the
fl
oating board until a suitable
breaking wave is identified. At that point the participant begins
to paddle using his arms and attempts to stand up on the board.
Skurfing
is a variant in which a surfboard is towed behind a boat,
other watercraft (such as a personal watercraft) or a mechanical
device such as a winch.
A.
Windsurfing, sailboarding or board sailing
is the act of
standing on a windsurfer (windsurf board) and using the
attached sail to harness wind power for propulsion and
direction.
B.
Kiteboarding
or
kitesurfing
is the use of a kiteboard (similar
to a wakeboard), which may or may not be attached to the
feet with foot-straps or bindings, in conjunction with a kite
(usually attached to the body with a harness) to move across
the surface of water in a standing position. The participant
controls the kite with his hands, using it to harness wind
power for propulsion.
This coverage does not include
Snow Kiting or training for
Kiteboarding without use of the board.
C.
Kneeboarding
is the act of kneeling on a kneeboard while
moving across the surface of water. Participants hold onto
a tow rope and are pulled by a boat, other watercraft (such
as a personal watercraft) or mechanical device such as a
winch. Participants may start in the water or out of water, as
on a dock or beach.
4.
Bodyboarding
is the act of riding breaking waves using a
bodyboard. Participants generally hold onto the board and ride
it in a prone or kneeling position. Participants may wear fins.
5.
Paddleboarding
refers to the act of kneeling on a surfboard or
paddleboard and paddling using the arms in a swimming-like
motion. Paddleboarding also refers to stand-up paddle surfing
(SUP) or stand-up paddle boarding, which is the act of standing
upright on a surfboard or paddleboard and using a long single-
bladed paddle for propulsion and direction.

 

[Kmart4321]

I just got off the phone with my travel insurance provider, a plan that is provided by my employer as a benefit. A co worker and I are planning a live a board trip this fall and I wanted to know coverage levels with scuba diving involved.
Basics of plan:
100% coverage with no limit on medical care, repatriation to home city covered either by commercial or private medical transport.
Coverage to reimburse for flights missed if medically incapacitated.
Coverage for accommodation if unable to travel immediately.
Coverage for escort to travel to me to then travel home with me.
Coverage to pay for escort to travel to me to escort my children home if they are travelling with me.
Coverage to repatriate a pet if travelling with me.
Only two down sides to coverage, evacuation from remote site limited to $5000.00 and I have to pay first and then apply for reimbursement, no direct billing.

This covers me any where out of my home province for trips up to 90 days in duration.
All in all, not bad for 4 bucks a month for me and all dependents.

 

[flots am]

I just got off the phone with my travel insurance provider, a plan that is provided by my employer as a benefit. A co worker and I are planning a live a board trip this fall and I wanted to know coverage levels with scuba diving involved.
Basics of plan:
100% coverage with no limit on medical care, repatriation to home city covered either by commercial or private medical transport.

. . .

That's nice, but probably not useful. The biggest benefit of getting widely-recognized SCUBA-specific insurance like DAN is that they will arrange your treatment and evacuation and keep track of which chambers are available, and where.

Insurance that just pays money, won't help if you're on an island somewhere and need to be helicoptered to a chamber on another island.

flots.

 

[DandyDon]

Hello,

DAN has a Trip plan called Premium, that covers one trip. It's not very competitive really, but I don't think that's what you're talking about...??

Now DAN is a membership organization, and members have requested other insurance plans beyond their famous Dive insurance - so they have added options for Travel, Equipment, and Life insurance. I have never been impressed with their other policies, but they are available.

Some of their Dive accident policies do offer some non-diving benefits - the Guardian & Preferred plans, not named "Premium."

Now I am curious - how does Dive Insurance cover non-diving activities? You may want to call DAN and ask - because I am pretty sure it does not cover Cheer and Skiing.

Who is covered on my family membership?

A family membership will cover you, your spouse or cohabitant and all unmarried dependent children under the age of 18, or under 24 if a full-time student at an accredited school or college, who is not employed on a full-time basis and has the same permanent home address as the parent. Family members must be listed on the membership record in DAN's database to have access to membership benefits.

Remember this is Dive Insurance - not sure it covers all sports related injuries...

Found some small print but never used it..
Nondiving Accident Medical Insurance
(Available only with the Guardian and Preferred Plans)
If an Insured Person incurs charges for treatment of Injury due to a
nondiving Accident that occurs outside his or her Home Country,
and is at least 50 miles / 80 km from the primary residence, United
States Life will pay the benefits described below subject to the terms
and limitations.

Seldom used maybe, but I wouldn't say never. The benefits are only $10K or $20K depending on the plan chosen, but can help that much anyway. You do have to be outside of your home country tho - true, as well as over 50 miles from home.

The rest of the details you posted are important too, but I'm just not copying all of them here.

That's nice, but probably not useful. The biggest benefit of getting widely-recognized SCUBA-specific insurance like DAN is that they will arrange your treatment and evacuation and keep track of which chambers are available, and where.

Insurance that just pays money, won't help if you're on an island somewhere and need to be helicoptered to a chamber on another island.

flots.

Well, DAN will still help in some ways, even if you're insured elsewhere or even not insured. The doctors will still accept collect calls and counsel you on your problem before they even ask if you are a member, and I bet they'll still try to refer you to your best options, open chambers, etc. They just won't pay anything if you're not an insured DAN member.

I am talking about DAN America specifically. Other DAN organizations worldwide may well vary.

Even if I got my dive insurance elsewhere, I'd still be a DAN member - and thereby enjoy the medical evacuation benefits.

 

[Texasguy]

My question wasn't about the safety of their usage on a boat...more about their durability in corrosive conditions. Anyone with experience in this area?

I don't think it would matter if the equipment is properly locked up in a pelican type of a case. This device is used once under a blue moon, as long as the batteries are good. The seal would not let air or water exchange. Just as long it is not under direct sun, I'd say, who cares.