PADI Divemaster insurance costs?

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I had to use my own equipment. (Whoopee-they supplied the tanks). My shop-bought gear was fast rotting due to constant exposure to chlorine. And here's a question: How long do your wetsuit kneepads last in the pool?

The LDS gave us a minimal discount, if any. Which usually reduced the price to within about 125% of LP.
 
catherine96821:
You might want to consider the Masterdiver route. I think I had five specialties for that... you said you already have three. Nitrox counts.
anyway I got my Divemaster because at the time I was new here in Hawaii and I wanted to go on the boats for free. The insurance I might let go because I am not really using my divemaster and the liability on a boat is there although I don't think it as great as everyone (like V&B, PADI) would like for us to believe. Its odd to me that my DM insurance was more than my RN liability insurance for Trauma Transport. Personally, I think a lot of insurance is a big racket.

If you go on the PADI site they have an algorithm of the various pathways for certifications.


I am doing my Dive Master through SSI (they call it Dive Control Specialist). I thought the insurance was quite high, too. I'm also an RN. Our insurance is probably alot cheaper because I am sure there are alot more nurses than there are DM. Too bad it costs so much, because I know we make more money than DM.
 
Ok... My current Rescue Diver and specialty certifications are with PADI. We only have 2 dive shops in our area (one PADI and one SSI). I will not be relocating anytime in the near future, and at the age of 51 I plan to keep this as a hobby or partime work. I am not looking to make this a career move.

From what I have read it looks like the local PADI shop will not be a good place for me to take the Dive Master course. Not because of PADI itself, but because I have adopted a DIR system that seems to conflict with what PADI teachs at this time. Also I no longer use the brands of dive gear they sell and promote, and as a result the "support the local dive shop thing" could be a problem with students. This could explain why I have been signed up to take their PADI DM course for over a year, but have not been called for the last 2 offerings... maybe the LDS is telling me something that I have not been picking up on.

The dive shop that I do support with my dollars is SSI, and they do sell the products that I use. My DIR gear setup may conflict with some of the SSI teachings but I seem to have more in common with the SSI LDS. If I decide to proceed down the DM/DiveCon road (and plan to work with this shop as a DiveCon) I should probably cross over to SSI for my DiveCon training. Later I could cross certify with PADI for the DM if needed.

The actual DM/DiveCon, and possible instructor training costs don't really concern me. I spent about $20,000 on my pilot certifications... even tec diving is cheap compared to the cost of flying. Also, although they are totally different activities, I feel that if I can teach people to fly, I could teach people to dive with the proper training. I was concerned about the liabilty and insurance situation. I wanted to get the entire financial and legal picture before I jumped in feet first. The fact that I couldn't get a straight answer about these from the LDS raised a red flag, so I came to this board looking for the answers. I am NOT cheap, but I am cautious. To be honest I am looking at it more for the challenge than income or status.

I now understand approximatly what I will have to pay in the form of the dues and insurance to maintain this rating, as long as I wish to exercise the privliges. Should I no longer wish to exercise those privlieges I could let the certification go "inactive" and drop the insurance, as there seems to be no real liabilty if I am not working in the capacity of a Dm/DiveCon when an incident occurs.

This is the information I needed to make a final decision. Thanks to all!
 
Sideband:
I am a NAUI Training Assistant. I am covered by the instructors insurance since I can not do anything without an instructor present. We can do pretty much anything an Assistant Instructor can do except we do not count towards instructor/student ratios.

Joe

that may be a misconception..alot of dm's think thats how it works based on hearsay..GET IT IN WRITING..for your own protection..any one at any time can be sued-pro or not a pro.example being I was sued once for being on a boat that a fatality occured..I was not the instructor,not the dm not a member of the crew..I was a paying passenger,but because I had a instr. certification the lawyers tried their "shotgun"effect and went for everybody..Because I had insurance I paid not dime one for anything..case went no where as it was shown victim caused his own demise..If I did not have insurance think about how much the lawyer would have cost me..
 
oly5050user:
that may be a misconception..alot of dm's think thats how it works based on hearsay..GET IT IN WRITING..for your own protection...

I sign an insurance form every year but I don't have to pay anything.

Joe
 
Reeraf, Boulderjohn,

Thanks for the info, it's appreciated.
 
One issue to be aware of with Divemaster insurance is the coverage rules. It's not like automobile liability that will cover you if you get sued 5 years after you drop coverage as long as were covered at the time of the incident resulting in the current suit. With DM insurance, your coverage must be paid and current at time of suit. This forces you to maintain your coverage for a number of years after you stop performing any DM work.
 
One issue to be aware of with Divemaster insurance is the coverage rules. It's not like automobile liability that will cover you if you get sued 5 years after you drop coverage as long as were covered at the time of the incident resulting in the current suit. With DM insurance, your coverage must be paid and current at time of suit. This forces you to maintain your coverage for a number of years after you stop performing any DM work.

AWAKE THE SLEEPING GIANT! (This thread has been inactive for about 4 years).
 
I see this thread is old (2/27/2006) so I want to revive it.
I'm currently studying for the PADI DM course. When I complete this course and I'm not currently teaching under an instructor as a DM, must I still have insurance? I don't understand why I would if I'm not actively teaching for a shop or otherwise. I would like to have this information clarified soon. My trip is booked and there is no turning back now as I have all the materials for it but this added cost is not something I was anticipating unless I was to teach.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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