Dive Insurance for Discover Scuba

Hi there. I'm certified and always carry DAN insurance. I'm planning with a friend to Cozumel, and he'd like to try Discover Scuba. It would be at a PADI op. He almost certainly won't get certified within the next few years, but this would give him a taste of it. My question is: does discover scuba include some sort of temporary dive insurance? I seem to recall that I didn't sign up for DAN until after I was OW certified, but that it was part of the training. I wasn't able to find an answer through PADI or DAN but would like to make sure he has his bases covered even for a basic course like discover scuba. Thanks!

 

I am not aware of any program that DAN carries that would cover a Discover Scuba incident. If the instructor has their liability insurance with DAN then they can sign up their students for a basic coverage which is good for the time that they are an OW student. I would think in this instance your friend's regular medical insurance would have to suffice.

 

Just for clarification...
The instructor does not have to have their liability coverage through DAN to provide DAN coverage for OW Students.

 

Thank you for clarifying this. I didn't realize that was the case and just another reason to like DAN!

 

As a general rule when being a student of a course the instructor or training operation should provide the insurance. Just ask them, if they're a bit cagey about it find another provider.

 

That would just be liability correct? I think think he was talking about medical.

 

HOWEVER - Dan changed the student coverage rules and it will not cover them outside of the US, and not cover them if training is not conducted by the instructor that provided teh student coverage....

 

Thanks all. Here is DAN's reply:

Student memberships with free medical coverage are available from DAN to those who are enrolled and participating in entry dive level training. The certifying dive instructor or shop/entity they are operating through is the person in question who can sign you up for the free coverage. The entity/shop would need to have a business account, or the instructor would need to have their own membership in order to sign your friend up. If they stated that they cannot do so for him, it may be the case that neither the instructor or the operator have DAN memberships or DAN insurance coverage of their own.
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The op is well known and has a very high reputation here so I'm not sure it's an issue of caginess. But if what mmerriman is saying is true:

Dan changed the student coverage rules and it will not cover them outside of the US​

Then we may be in a bind anyway.

 

I have to ask - why are you concerned about dive insurance for a DSD?

 

I guess he's otherwise uninsured for it..so I'm not sure why I would be any less concerned about the eventuality of an incident at 12m instead of my usual 20 in Cozumel. You wouldn't recommend I forgo insurance if I said "I'm just diving Paradise," would you? (not being facetious..generally interested. Having DAN has been drilled into my head for 20 years regardless of the depth or relative ease of dives).