Teaching the SSI Decompression Diver Class: Insurance question

[gbirch]

TLDR: My question to any recreational instructors that teach the SSI Decompression Diver class in North America is "How are you handling your professional liability insurance? Do you use DAN or another provider?"

Are there any instructors out there teaching the SSI Decompression Diver class that could help with an insurance question?
I am a Tech Diver (Trimix), and an SSI instructor certified to teach SSI recreational classes including the SSI Decompression Diver class, but I am not certified to teach any of the SSI Extended Range Classes. I get my DAN Professional Liability Insurance through the SSI shop that I teach for as a part of the shop group policy.

Last October I was completing the paperwork for the insurance renewal and noticed this exclusion clause that excludes coverage for any teaching situation...

3. Arising out of any diving activity that is not planned as a RECREATIONAL DIVE (defined as dives planned to 130 feet or shallower, planned without mandatory stage decompression, and made using compressed air or oxygen enriched air ‘nitrox’ only), however this exclusion shall not apply to an INSURED who is engaged in the instruction or supervision of technical diving, provided the INSURED (i) has disclosed to the Underwriter that he or she is a technical diver, (ii) has been properly trained in technical diving and the equipment being used, (iii) has credentials to teach or supervise technical diving on the type of equipment being used at the time of the EVENT, and (iv) is engaged in a dive planned to a depth less than 330’ using air, nitrox, helium or trimix.

The way that I read this clause is that this policy will not cover an instructor teaching a class that includes mandatory decompression UNLESS that instructor meets all of the four conditions:

1. Has disclosed that he or she is a tech diver
2. Has been properly trained in tech diving and the equipment being used
3. Has credentials to teach or supervise technical diving on the type of equipment being used
4. Is planning dives shallower than 330 ft.

No problems with 1,2 and 4 but my question is regarding #3. Depending on how you read this exclusion clause I may or may not be covered and so, rather than risk not being covered, I asked SSI for clarity, and they referred me to DAN. I have been chasing DAN for an answer for 10 months now and the best that I have from DAN so far is "I can confirm that this type of training is not currently covered by the professional liability insurance policy".

My question to any other recreational instructors that teach this class in North America is "How are you handling your professional liability insurance? Do you use DAN or another provider?"

Thank you for your patience reading this far, I really look forward to and appreciate your input.

 

[BoltSnap]

TLDR: My question to any recreational instructors that teach the SSI Decompression Diver class in North America is "How are you handling your professional liability insurance? Do you use DAN or another provider?"

Are there any instructors out there teaching the SSI Decompression Diver class that could help with an insurance question?
I am a Tech Diver (Trimix), and an SSI instructor certified to teach SSI recreational classes including the SSI Decompression Diver class, but I am not certified to teach any of the SSI Extended Range Classes. I get my DAN Professional Liability Insurance through the SSI shop that I teach for as a part of the shop group policy.

Last October I was completing the paperwork for the insurance renewal and noticed this exclusion clause that excludes coverage for any teaching situation...

3. Arising out of any diving activity that is not planned as a RECREATIONAL DIVE (defined as dives planned to 130 feet or shallower, planned without mandatory stage decompression, and made using compressed air or oxygen enriched air ‘nitrox’ only), however this exclusion shall not apply to an INSURED who is engaged in the instruction or supervision of technical diving, provided the INSURED (i) has disclosed to the Underwriter that he or she is a technical diver, (ii) has been properly trained in technical diving and the equipment being used, (iii) has credentials to teach or supervise technical diving on the type of equipment being used at the time of the EVENT, and (iv) is engaged in a dive planned to a depth less than 330’ using air, nitrox, helium or trimix.

The way that I read this clause is that this policy will not cover an instructor teaching a class that includes mandatory decompression UNLESS that instructor meets all of the four conditions:

1. Has disclosed that he or she is a tech diver
2. Has been properly trained in tech diving and the equipment being used
3. Has credentials to teach or supervise technical diving on the type of equipment being used
4. Is planning dives shallower than 330 ft.

No problems with 1,2 and 4 but my question is regarding #3. Depending on how you read this exclusion clause I may or may not be covered and so, rather than risk not being covered, I asked SSI for clarity, and they referred me to DAN. I have been chasing DAN for an answer for 10 months now and the best that I have from DAN so far is "I can confirm that this type of training is not currently covered by the professional liability insurance policy".

My question to any other recreational instructors that teach this class in North America is "How are you handling your professional liability insurance? Do you use DAN or another provider?"

Thank you for your patience reading this far, I really look forward to and appreciate your input.

I fully understand how frustrating this must be, especially when SSI, both promoter and certifier of your Decompression Diver course, directs you to an insurer that then informs you, “this is not covered.”

This contradiction puts you—and every SSI instructor authorized to teach this course—in a truly unsustainable situation. You meet all the prerequisites SSI specifies for decompression training, yet the policy provided through SSI explicitly excludes coverage for the very activity you’re certified to teach. This isn’t a minor oversight; it exposes a systemic gap that likely affects many instructors unaware of the hidden risk within their supposed protection. If not addressed, instructors could face significant exposure, potentially denied claims from the insurer endorsed by SSI.

SSI must provide a clear, written statement, jointly signed by their training department and the underwriter. This document should definitively confirm whether your credentials meet the policy’s requirements. Insist that SSI either amend the group policy to explicitly include mandatory decompression instruction for properly qualified instructors or provide a transparent written explanation if they cannot or will not do so.

Meanwhile, keep detailed records of every interaction and share redacted copies with your fellow SSI instructors. A united effort will strengthen your position in persuading SSI to align its insurance offerings with the courses it certifies.

Ultimately, the well-being and safety of every instructor in SSI’s network depend on quickly resolving this issue. Your support now will protect colleagues and uphold the high standards of professionalism and safety that SSI maintains.