Travel Insurance

[Richie771]

Can anybody suggest a decent Travel insurance company?

1 Weeks Liveaboard Red Sea, looking for cover for Chamber Etc....

Never been on Dive holiday and unsure as to what I need

Many Thanks

Richie

[Bren Tierney]

Richie,

For what it's worth, I did extensive research into the pro's and con's of all the leading diving insurance cover policies just over three years ago. I do a quick recce again each year to make sure I'm still getting the best deal for the annual policy I take out for my wife and myself.

I've found that to get an annual policy with multiple trip (UK and global), Chamber cover, repatriation to the UK in the event of it all going wrong on you, helo-medi evac, hyperbaric aware medics/doctors, medical bills covered etc. then the best I found was Westfield Insurance's 'SCUBA & Marine Policy'. They back it off to Lloyds of London, so you'll be in good hands.

They also do a the same cover to include your RIB and outboard (so it maybe a good idea for any BSAC club to get a competitive quote to cover them, their kit and their RIBs and engines too).

My annual policy for my wife and I cost ?128.00 in total (NOT each). They, Westfield, renew over the phone with either a credit or debit card. Here's their URL:

<a href="http://www.divernet.com/westfield/" >http://www.divernet.com/westfield/</a>

Hope this helps mate and dive safe.

Bren.

[David J Smith]

Richie,

Seems a shame you having to get dive insurance, did your prize not come with it !




Richie,

For what it's worth, I did extensive research into the pro's and con's of all the leading diving insurance cover policies just over three years ago. I do a quick recce again each year to make sure I'm still getting the best deal for the annual policy I take out for my wife and myself.

I've found that to get an annual policy with multiple trip (UK and global), Chamber cover, repatriation to the UK in the event of it all going wrong on you, helo-medi evac, hyperbaric aware medics/doctors, medical bills covered etc. then the best I found was Westfield Insurance's 'SCUBA & Marine Policy'. They back it off to Lloyds of London, so you'll be in good hands.

They also do a the same cover to include your RIB and outboard (so it maybe a good idea for any BSAC club to get a competitive quote to cover them, their kit and their RIBs and engines too).

My annual policy for my wife and I cost ?128.00 in total (NOT each). They, Westfield, renew over the phone with either a credit or debit card. Here's their URL:

<a href="http://www.divernet.com/westfield/" > <a href="http://www.divernet.com/westfield/" >http://www.divernet.com/westfield/</a></a>

Hope this helps mate and dive safe.

Bren.

[Richie771]

Sorry Dave it didn't!

But 10 days free diving in Southern Red Sea cant be bad.

Nice to see ur dtill alive - U have been very quet lately.

Bovi need an insytructor next week, i'm back at work - can you help ? If so give Dave a call.

[dave covey]

Can anybody suggest a decent Travel insurance company?

The Divers Alert Network (DAN) are a global organisation offering cover for Divers. For EU citizens DANEUROPE can be found on the link below.

Note: I work in Hyperbarics in the Far East. DAN Membership costs as little as 43 quid......but the bill equates to the price of a CAR for those opting to play "russian roulette" (and there are far too many of 'em)!!

I hope this helps.....

[PeteM]

:=Can anybody suggest a decent Travel insurance company?

The Divers Alert Network (DAN) are a global organisation offering cover for Divers. For EU citizens DANEUROPE can be found on the link below.

I used to think DAN we good even if the cover was a little light - however I then read this story (see the last couple of paragraphs)......
<a href="http://www.derwentelec.clara.co.uk/html/ukrs_littlehampton_24_5_03.html" >http://www.derwentelec.clara.co.uk/html/ukrs_littlehampton_24_5_03.html</a>

[dave covey]

I used to think DAN we good even if the cover was a little light - however I then read this story (see the last couple of paragraphs)......

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the link. It makes interesting reading but I find the comments attributed to DAN hard to believe. One call/fax/email to their HQ in Italy is enough to establish whether or not you're covered and it's from there that claims are handled, regardless of the geographic location of clients.

I have never heard anything to suggest DAN "won't pay because it isn't an Emergency" and very much doubt if this was stated during the alledged phonecall.......

(Note: In UK the NHS are responsable for Hyperbaric Treatment, although some areas deny it/seem unaware)

For further info contact Michael Corrillo (<a href="mailto:<a href="mailto:info@daneurope.org">info@daneurope.org</a>"><a href="mailto:info@daneurope.org">info@daneurope.org</a></a>).


Disclaimer: I don't work for DAN or any other insurer. My primary concern is that too many Brits abroad are underinsured.

Here's a link for anyone wishing to dive in Thailand.

(Cheers for your answer-I hope this helps the original poster!)

[jeanne]

Can anybody suggest a decent Travel insurance company?

1 Weeks Liveaboard Red Sea, looking for cover for Chamber Etc....

Never been on Dive holiday and unsure as to what I need

Many Thanks

Richie

Hi Richie,

Insurance policies as I am sure you are aware are a minefield of codiciles and exceptions where the consideration of saving a buck or two can be a great boon, or a terrible mistake. For me, cheap does not often mean best. It is no my criterion of choice. Reputation, track record, flexibility, customer loyalty and service and approachability is as much as I would like to pay for as the cover itself, which, as was said before me, cover is pretty similar for all companies concerned in this game. Sure, you can get cheap and more expensive for the same printed cover. The delivery may be different when the chips are down.

I have personally been insured both for diving emergency, camera insurance, and travel insurance with Dive Master (actually long before they linked up with the BSAC and we now get a 10% discount!)and I have only had to call on them a couple of times or three, and they have been superb, though I can't comment on the diver emergency cover, thankfully we have never had to use it yet. I flooded my underwater camera once and got a full refund of the value insured which enabled me to cover 90% of the cost of a brand new and better one, no questions asked. We had a suitcase battered once and got oodles of compensation for the contents. We were delayed travelling home once from the Maldives and had to incur unexpected costs which were fully refunded. I am happy with them, I know they are not, most probably, the cheapest, but, they saw me right when I needed them.

The advice I can give you is to ask the people who ever had to call on their insurance for compensation, get a view of what they felt was being done for them, how well the claim was handled, if they were happy with the settlement, and so on. Then decide. Paying a cheap premium for years without ever calling in the 'chips' is no measure of value in my book.

Jeanne

[David J Smith]

Richie
What? you telling me work is getting in the way of you diving, that will never last! I am on a course at RAF Cranwell next week for three weeks, pure classroom hell, don't finish until the 19th, So I won't be available. I will hopefully be going down to Bovi the week of the 29th I think to help out on the Ocean Diver course, if you aren't busy, I think Flares could do with a visit.

And as I am on your thread, If you are that bothered about Insurance, I can always go in your place !!!

Talk to you soon

Dave

PS They (Welsh Guards I think) are still trying to find a SADS for the XXth to the XXth September for Barbados, if you are interested give me a bell I have their number...

[richie771]

Ref Barbados:

They have called every SADS in NATO!

The trip is ?400 - and there is no Adv Diver going - So ?400 to sit on the beach - Urm no thanks - Could goto Scapa with my New Twinset and wing with that sort of cash.......

P.S;

Tidworth is great club.........