Dive Insurance-An exclusion to be aware of

[micquinn]

For recent liveaboard trip, I had a dive travel agency recommend a a travel insurance company who I not heard of previously, Arch RoamRight (ARR). I bought their highest level policy for a trip to Tiger Beach on the Dolphin Dream this past December. BTW, the Dolphin Dream operation was excellent and we had some amazing dives with Tiger sharks! Unfortunately the weather was not cooperative and we had dives canceled while still on-site at Tiger Beach, and finally the Bimini portion was canceled so we came back to WPB two days early. Since we only made 9 of the 22 planned dives, I put in a claim for the unused portion of the cost of the liveaboard and airfare (59%). Anna of Dolphin Dream was very helpful in getting me a letter documenting the number of dives canceled and the reason for the cancellation being due to weather. I submitted all the documentation to ARR.

After asking for some additional documentation and taking about three weeks, I received an email from ARR saying they were only paying a portion of my claim. It was about 40% of the 59% I had filed the claim for. The reason was that "it was not a covered peril". I was confused how weather related dive cancellations would not be covered, and also the logic for the partial payment of my claim. I made a call to ARR and the next day got a call back from the person who processed my claim. She was very nice and we had a civil conversation but I came to find out that the policy only covered the loss the dives if it was a "cessation of the vessel" or some wording like that. So the only thing they paid was for the two days where the boat came back early, not the other days that the captain canceled diving due to poor conditions while on-site. I explained that from my perspective, if the captain canceled dives for weather, that should be covered. She said it was not and from her experience most insurances would not cover the situation. Only if the boat returned to dock. I thanked her for her time and told her I understood that she was just following the policies of her company. I am getting back enough to cover the cost of the dive insurance and a (very) small portion of the trip.

I just wanted to make people aware of this exclusion, at least with ARR. I would not get ARR insurance again for this reason as I think this situation would not be all that uncommon on a multi-day liveaboard trip. In the future, I will have to investigate if the insurance I'm considering has this exclusion.

 

[lexvil]

A rule of thumb for me, it’s always better to lose money IF a trip falls apart without having to ever deal with the conniving of an insurance company.

 

[rjack321]

For recent liveaboard trip, I had a dive travel agency recommend a a travel insurance company who I not heard of previously, Arch RoamRight (ARR). I bought their highest level policy for a trip to Tiger Beach on the Dolphin Dream this past December. BTW, the Dolphin Dream operation was excellent and we had some amazing dives with Tiger sharks! Unfortunately the weather was not cooperative and we had dives canceled while still on-site at Tiger Beach, and finally the Bimini portion was canceled so we came back to WPB two days early. Since we only made 9 of the 22 planned dives, I put in a claim for the unused portion of the cost of the liveaboard and airfare (59%). Anna of Dolphin Dream was very helpful in getting me a letter documenting the number of dives canceled and the reason for the cancellation being due to weather. I submitted all the documentation to ARR.

After asking for some additional documentation and taking about three weeks, I received an email from ARR saying they were only paying a portion of my claim. It was about 40% of the 59% I had filed the claim for. The reason was that "it was not a covered peril". I was confused how weather related dive cancellations would not be covered, and also the logic for the partial payment of my claim. I made a call to ARR and the next day got a call back from the person who processed my claim. She was very nice and we had a civil conversation but I came to find out that the policy only covered the loss the dives if it was a "cessation of the vessel" or some wording like that. So the only thing they paid was for the two days where the boat came back early, not the other days that the captain canceled diving due to poor conditions while on-site. I explained that from my perspective, if the captain canceled dives for weather, that should be covered. She said it was not and from her experience most insurances would not cover the situation. Only if the boat returned to dock. I thanked her for her time and told her I understood that she was just following the policies of her company. I am getting back enough to cover the cost of the dive insurance and a (very) small portion of the trip.

I just wanted to make people aware of this exclusion, at least with ARR. I would not get ARR insurance again for this reason as I think this situation would not be all that uncommon on a multi-day liveaboard trip. In the future, I will have to investigate if the insurance I'm considering has this exclusion.

It would be unheard of for an insurance company to cover weather related dive cancellations unless the boat itself didn't leave the dock or was forced into port (e.g. by a hurricane). The thunderstorms that passed through on Thursday? Yeah that's 100% on you.

 

[micquinn]

It would be unheard of for an insurance company to cover weather related dive cancellations unless the boat itself didn't leave the dock or was forced into port (e.g. by a hurricane). The thunderstorms that passed through on Thursday? Yeah that's 100% on you.

I guess it was a wrong assumption on my part. Lesson learned.

 

[Living4Experiences]

I'm glad you got something from the insurance and it wasn't an outright denial. Did Dolphin Dream offer any compensation? I know it was because of the weather, which is out of their control, but just wondering. I have searched and searched for dive insurance that would be sufficient for liveaboard losses, and I haven't found a company yet. The list of reasons to not cover you is longer than the list of covered reasons.

 

[micquinn]

Yes it eased the pain a bit.

The Dolphin Dream offered a discount on a future trip. Capt. Scott did not quote an exact amount when he made the comment, but when I asked afterwards the answer I got was the discount would be somewhere between $400 and $500. Approximately 10%.

I understand your point about looking for insurance. Before I purchased the Arch RoamRight insurance I tried to do some research, including looking here on Scubaboard, and did not find any clear winner. I think I put too much reliance on the recommendation from the dive travel company assuming this insurance would cover somewhat common reasons for canceling dives on a liveaboard. And the insurance companies don't make it easy trying to understand what's covered and what's not. For my next trip, I certainly wouldn't use this company again, if I get any insurance at all. I will probably check what DAN covers.

 

[Edward3c]

Yes it eased the pain a bit.

The Dolphin Dream offered a discount on a future trip. Capt. Scott did not quote an exact amount when he made the comment, but when I asked afterwards the answer I got was the discount would be somewhere between $400 and $500. Approximately 10%.

I understand your point about looking for insurance. Before I purchased the Arch RoamRight insurance I tried to do some research, including looking here on Scubaboard, and did not find any clear winner. I think I put too much reliance on the recommendation from the dive travel company assuming this insurance would cover somewhat common reasons for canceling dives on a liveaboard. And the insurance companies don't make it easy trying to understand what's covered and what's not. For my next trip, I certainly wouldn't use this company again, if I get any insurance at all. I will probably check what DAN covers.

From the UK prospective, I don't know of any insurance that covers 'lost dives' because of weather, or change of dive site.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Bad weather comes under force majeur. Or known as tough luck. I've been to Philippines and lost diving days due to typhoons.
It happens cannot blame anyone. You need to have more realistic expectations as to what travel insurance covers.

PS what you have is NOT dive insurance. That is a separate insurance travel insurance also will not cover.

 

[micquinn]

That's what I said, I need to have more realistic expectations and understand the limitations. I just thought I would share because others might have had the same misunderstanding.

 

[Edward3c]

That's what I said, I need to have more realistic expectations and understand the limitations. I just thought I would share because others might have had the same misunderstanding.

I take out dive & travel insurance, not to recover monies for cancelled dives or even the trip as I would have spent that money anyway. I take insurance to recover me, or my body, back to the U.K. following any illness or injury.