Need help choosing the right insurance (going to Bonaire from Pennsylvania USA)

[miserkris]

Hi

I am going to Bonaire for my OW certification in a week. Will be with my dive club group. I am renting BC and reg from dive shop here....

Flying Newark to Bonaire. Back in a week.

Just became DAN member paid $35 now....I only go on a big vaca like this once a year...

Of the 3 kinds of insurance in DAN.....What kind of DAN insurance is safe/good for a beginner scuba diver like me?
thanks ....

KRIS
DAN Trip Insurance

You may save all year — or longer — to take that dream vacation. Don't let an unforeseen incident ruin it for you.
DAN Annual Travel Insurance

Year-round protection for global travelers. Features trip cancellation & interruption, extensive equipment & baggage coverage and primary medical coverage worldwide. Covers diving, boating, golfing, hiking and more ...
DAN Dive Equipment Insurance

You invest a lot of money and time into purchasing and caring for your dive gear and camera equipment. Still, accidents happen. Protect your investment with DAN Dive Equipment Insurance.

 

[Damselfish]

When you say 3 kinds of insurance, are you talking about the 3 you list, or the 3 dive accident insurance plans (standard, preferred, and master)? IMO dive accident insurance is much more important than what you list. DAN membership is good to get but does not include dive accident insurance. I think people will tend to suggest getting at least Master if not Preferred, though Standard is better than none.

I've never felt a need to insure dive equipment, though my husband insures his photo gear since as they say - it's when - not if - something floods. Some people swear by travel insurance (and for some it gives them coverage while traveling that their regular medical insurance does not.) Others, myself included, feel it usually makes more sense to self-insure, given the cost and the potential difficulty of actually collecting. How much risk in a given trip is there something will go wrong, and what would you actually lose?

 

[miserkris]

When you say 3 kinds of insurance, are you talking about the 3 you list, or the 3 dive accident insurance plans (standard, preferred, and master)? IMO dive accident insurance is much more important than what you list. DAN membership is good to get but does not include dive accident insurance. I think people will tend to suggest getting at least Master if not Preferred, though Standard is better than none.

I've never felt a need to insure dive equipment, though my husband insures his photo gear since as they say - it's when - not if - something floods. Some people swear by travel insurance (and for some it gives them coverage while traveling that their regular medical insurance does not.) Others, myself included, feel it usually makes more sense to self-insure, given the cost and the potential difficulty of actually collecting. How much risk in a given trip is there something will go wrong, and what would you actually lose?

Thanks .... Seems the Preferred or master Dive accident insurance plan covers even dive equipment damage / loss . Wonder if that means if a Reg or BCD is stolen from car or hotel ...can I claim it . I am also renting those from my dive shop here in USA. Or maybe it has to be associated with a real 'accident' underwater? It says "Lost Diving Equipment" in the list .

For some reason even after I login ( I bought DAN membership yesterday), it does not let me "buy" the dive accident plans. I am gonna call their 1800# and ask ...!

Thanks much ...BTW I have a yellow tail damsel in my s/w fish reef tank...a real bully

 

[Damselfish]

The dive equipment insurance included with the accident insurance is for losses related to an accident, not something like it being stolen. Similar with the bit of trip insurance included, it's a limited thing related to diving, not general purpose like if there's a hurricane, a relative dies, etc.

My very first Caribbean dive (in Bonaire!) I was molested by a yellow tail damsel. It was pretty funny coming from a fish 3 inches long. As I've heard said, if Damselfish were big we'd never go in the ocean...

 

[windapp]

The dive equipment insurance included with the accident insurance is for losses related to an accident, not something like it being stolen. Similar with the bit of trip insurance included, it's a limited thing related to diving, not general purpose like if there's a hurricane, a relative dies, etc.

My very first Caribbean dive (in Bonaire!) I was molested by a yellow tail damsel. It was pretty funny coming from a fish 3 inches long. As I've heard said, if Damselfish were big we'd never go in the ocean...

But what other insurance is going to cover you for getting a bad cold? Dive accident insurance is really a supplement to existing insurance.

 

[Damselfish]

Yes it's filling a gap and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, it makes sense. Simply pointing out that one shouldn't confuse the travel insurance DAN includes with dive accident insurance, with a regular travel insurance policy. Then be surprised when a hurricane wipes out their trip and it's not covered. I've heard of people being misled by this before, or maybe doing some wishful thinking on what's included.