Confused as to the difference between dive insurance packages?
Or do you simply not know which policies you actually need to
ensure your diving life is correctly covered? Well here's a run
down of the types of policies available.
International Diving Emergency Card:
Known as the IDEC, this is sport injury insurance with worldwide
coverage. It provides funds for the insured person for accidents
and injuries resulting from sport diving. IDEC can also provide
cover for the insured person on their return home, and provides
cover for UK diving as well.
The insurance includes 24 hour multi-lingual assistance provided
by MEDEX Assistance Corporation, which staffs its phone lines
with assistance co-ordinators who liaise with specialist diving
doctors to ensure the patient receives the correct treatment for
their diving injury. Cover also includes emergency evacuation
from remote areas, repatriation using the best means possible
and many more benefits besides.
All divers should carry IDEC cover if they dive in the UK and/or
dive abroad. It is available for short trips and annual cover.
It is not a standard travel insurance policy, but it is taken
out as a bolt on package.
Travel Insurance Programme:
When allied with the IDEC cover, Dive Master’s Travel policy
is perfect for overseas diving trips. Separating the two means
that non-diving members of the group or family can keep the high
level of cover, but not have to pay for cover they will not use.
A standard travel policy is used to cover the risk of cancelled
flights, lost baggage as well as injuries and accidents occurring
when not diving. Policies can be booked for short one-off trips,
annual multi-trips and even long period trips. Most travel insurance
packages - Dive Master's included - are banded to take in various
parts of the world such as Europe, Worldwide and Worldwide including
the US. Unlike many insurance packages of this type, Dive Master’s
classes all the Mediterranean and the Red Sea in our European’
cover.
When booking travel insurance, divers should look out for Diver-related
clauses such the Dive Master’s unfit to dive section. This
provides cancellation cover even if you are fit to travel, but
unfit to dive. In addition, it also covers for loss of diving
days due to illness at resort (prepaid diving that is) as well
as loss of equipment up to £1000. It is these little details
that can mean a big difference.
Short Trip: As it says, this type of policy is designed for a
one-off trip of up to a few weeks.
Annual Multi-Trip: This type of policy is designed for people
who take trips several times a year, but for short periods. Some
have extras to allow the policy holder to take non diving trips
(winter sports breaks for example). Cover is generally for worldwide
coverage.
Annual: This type of policy is designed for travelling divers
who spend more than 6 months away from the UK. Again the cover
is worldwide and some dive-specific polices also come with extra
non-diving trip cover and even some equipment cover.
Equipment:
This type of policy is used to cover the risk of equipment being
lost, stolen or jettisoned in an emergency. The premium is based
on the type of equipment and its cost. It is worth checking any
such policy for exclusions and clauses which could be relevant
to divers such as the types of equipment covered (standard, technical
and photographic).
Liability:
Liability insurance covers the user against claims made against
them. Professional diver policies are designed for instructing,
guiding and supervising divers, the sport – or recreational
– diver policy is designed to protect the policy holder from
financial loss in the event of a liability claim. In other words,
if you accidentally injure someone (other than yourself that is)
and they sue you, this type of policy will take over all the financial
implications. Generally, liability insurance is sold with several
limits of cover that the customer can choose.
To find out more about insurance policies visit our coporate
sponsor's website at www.dive-master.net
Bronze Diver
Daily Cover 5$ per day >>
Weekly Cover 25$
2 Weeks Cover 35$ >> Monthly Cover
45$
Bronze Diving and Tour Risks
Daily Cover 9$ per day
