Insurance for Dive Gear?

[scubaguy655]

I have my camera insured through State Farm as a separate policy. It costs me about $50 per year and covers anything that happens to the camera including flooding. I chose the stand alone policy for the camera because of the replacement cost and potential extra hazards it is exposed to.

My dive gear is covered through my homeowners policy.

 

[Ingolf]

i guess nothing for canada?

 

[DrownedRat]

Standard homeowners insurance will have you covered. I'm with co-operators and recently had my drysuit stolen out of my car. It was fully covered by my home policy. After filing the forms I had a cheque within about 3 days and by the end of that week I had a new suit. Only downside was I lost my %10 discount for being claim free. But considering my policy only costs about $20 a month I wasn't too heart broken.

what about canada

 

[CompuDude]

Standard homeowners insurance will have you covered. I'm with co-operators and recently had my drysuit stolen out of my car. It was fully covered by my home policy. After filing the forms I had a cheque within about 3 days and by the end of that week I had a new suit. Only downside was I lost my %10 discount for being claim free. But considering my policy only costs about $20 a month I wasn't too heart broken.

This something to consider if you want to depend on your homeowners policies. If your rates aren't $20/mo you may wish to speak to your agent. You don't want your homeowners policy getting cancelled (or greatly increased) because you had a couple divegear-related claims!

This is why I went with a separate carrier for my dive gear insurance. (I went with DAN's insurance, but yes, getting claims pushed through is a pain.... tho they eventually did cut me a check.)

 

[Rainer]

I'm also looking to get insurance for my dive gear. What were your issues with DAN? Was it lost/stolen gear, or a flooded camera?

 

[CompuDude]

I'm also looking to get insurance for my dive gear. What were your issues with DAN? Was it lost/stolen gear, or a flooded camera?

Flooded camera. Two, actually. (wince)

Once I got to work with an agent, things progressed fairly smoothly. But there was quite a long lag time between filing the claim (only possible via a form online, then you wait...) and actually getting contacted.

I have the money to replace a camera, so I wasn't exactly held up, but my reimbursement check took a long time to reach me. Again, not a huge deal when you're talking $250, but if all my dive gear was stolen (easily over $6k) it would be a much larger issue.

 

[serambin]

Well, if your camera floods you can run the boat out into the middle of the lake, scuttle it with the camera aboard and then get the camera paid for.

Oh wait...

Great plan. Too bad the insurance companys read SB.

Stan

 

[Web Monkey]

Can anyone recommend or make any suggestions about insurance for dive gear? Utility? Companies to go through, etc. Is it really necessary?

Mine is covered under my homeowner's policy. I sent them a list of equipment. They cover everything for a little less than $50/year.

Terry

 

[bajashack]

I have a policy through DAN and very grateful to have it. I filed a claim about 6 months ago and had a check about 10 days after I submitted all the paper work. It was one of the smoothest claims I have ever been paid on. I highly recommend it.

 

[mobster75]

I would recommend having something besides just homeowner's insurance...

Anecdotally, last summer I had my dive bag stolen out of a locked rental car in the USVI. Only things I was left with were my dive compass (it was on the dashboard, used it for driving), my computer (kept in my backpack), and my logbook (also in my backpack) and all my cold-water gear I left at home (gloves, hood, 7mm wetsuit).

My homeowner's insurance covered everything I lost based on the most competitive pricing they could find (almost everything was based on LeisurePro per their worksheet!!) @ a 10% per year of ownership depreciation, so needless to say it was a good chunk, but left a lot to be desired. Particulary as a lot of my gear was LDS purchased.

Thankfully, I had also purchased travel insurance through CSA and they picked up the ball where my homeowner's insurance dropped it and paid me the difference between the HO's payout and what I paid for the gear!! Needless to say, I was able to replace everything and even get a small upgrade on my regs from Oceanic Alpha 8 w/ PX-3 1st to Oceanic GT-3 w/ CDX-5 1st.

I will never forget travel insurance ever again!