insurance for new divers

[kellyfish]

I've been a cert OW diver since Oct 2003. Of course, I haven't been diving since. Not for the lack of want - trust me. Anyway, planning on refreshing and doing more dives after mid-October - wanting to prep for a live-aboard trip to the Tortugas in April. Anyway, wondering about DAN & what everyone's opinion is of it. I've heard it's a wonderful organization who really comes through when needed - like when diving outside of the U.S. But is it worth it for me to purchase insurance if I'm diving a few springs and local stuff if my primary insurance covers me? Looking for advice.
Thanx
Kel

 

[simbrooks]

I bought master coverage with DAN, seems a good price for most recreational, non-professional divers. Other have the top coverage, i wouldnt look at the basic one. There will doubtless be several chime in on using PADI's one and some others that are a little cheaper, but then you will get the rebutal of DAN actually doing research work funded by your membership dues etc. 6 of one half a dozen of the other.

If you want to get wet sometime soon, why not come down to Venice this weekend with a group of us who are organising a trip in the Florida Conch Divers forum, would be most welcome and would get you in the water after a long layaway from diving - you need to get those skills in practice before the liveaboard trip!!

 

[MakoMermaid]

Double-check with your primary insurance; most won't cover emergency evacuation or recompression chamber treatments. I wouldn't want to be without dive insurance myself. It's not that expensive, anyway... I have the premium policy and I think it's $75. My insurance is through PADI, simply because they cover evacuation within 50 miles from home (DAN does not), and I sometimes dive local quarries. Otherwise I'd have gone with DAN.

 

[jbisjim]

i too have Dan master coverage. I have a buddy that has divesafe he had a dcs hit about a month ago and so far Divesafe has come through. Dan still called him and his doctor since he called Dan with questions.

Dan is really good about about helping all divers whether they are members or not.

 

[herman]

I have master as well. Your insurance MAY cover it and they may not. Almost no one at an insurance company is qualified in hyperberic med and they may decide you "don't need to go to a chamber" or you went without their permission so they will not pay. One way you can end up with bad complications and the other you have a huge (10-20K) bill that they will not pay for. DAN is cheap, they know what they are doing and if for no other reason, you help support dive med research and the hotline. Get DAN.

 

[mstudley]

I have the DAN preferred plan. I figured for $70 a year why not get the best plan. What sold me was the $250k -per occurance- coverage instead of the $125k total lifetime coverage the master plan offered. Plus you get some extra coverage:

* up to $10,000 (lifetime maximum) worth of coverage for Medical Non-dive Accident Coverage – for eligible charges for the treatment of non-diving accidents outside home country
* up to $10,000 (lifetime maximum) worth of Diving Vacation Cancellation coverage – for injured person’s losses incurred for trip cancelled before departure
* up to $5,000 (lifetime maximum) of Diving Vacation Interruption coverage – for injured person’s losses incurred for trip interrupted after departure

You can upgrade from master to preferred if you like.

 

[DocVikingo]

I've been a cert OW diver since Oct 2003. Of course, I haven't been diving since. Not for the lack of want - trust me. Anyway, planning on refreshing and doing more dives after mid-October - wanting to prep for a live-aboard trip to the Tortugas in April. Anyway, wondering about DAN & what everyone's opinion is of it. I've heard it's a wonderful organization who really comes through when needed - like when diving outside of the U.S. But is it worth it for me to purchase insurance if I'm diving a few springs and local stuff if my primary insurance covers me? Looking for advice.
Thanx
Kel

The following is a very detailed reply given to this question when it was posted last month:

Are You Diving Naked? http://www.scubaboard.com/t70800-.html

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[DocVikingo]

Double-check with your primary insurance; most won't cover emergency evacuation or recompression chamber treatments. I wouldn't want to be without dive insurance myself. It's not that expensive, anyway... I have the premium policy and I think it's $75. My insurance is through PADI, simply because they cover evacuation within 50 miles from home (DAN does not), and I sometimes dive local quarries. Otherwise I'd have gone with DAN.

PADI policies for '04 & '05 are priced as follows:

Platinum -- $97.00 ($77.00 for Diving Society Members)
Gold -- $67.00
Silver --$44.00

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[kellyfish]

Thanks for the info Simon, it's kinda what I figured. Thanks for the invite to Venice! We really would have liked to join you guys. We had to go fix some stuff @ Ma's, but we did find time to SCUBA shop! We both invested in a regulator/octo setup - we can't wait to try them out. We do need some wet time soon though - lemme know when you're going again.

 

[kellyfish]

I really appreciate everybody's input on this issue. I figured dive insurance was a must - but I'm really glad to have opinions and links to make a more informed decision. Thanks again!!!