Insurance - WTF!

[Garf]

Ok, so the team and I are off to Narvik to do some cold but crystal clear (55m viz, anyone?) diving on some WW2 wrecks. this is the first time I have dived outside the UK, so thought I would get some advice as to medical insurance.

I was pointed in the direction of DAN. all seemed sensible enough until I examined their policy......

Exclusions..
Accidents arising from the following causes are exlcuded from this insurance....
M. Also excluded is recreational technical diving, involving artifical breathing mixtures

pardon. What exactly is an "artifical breathing mixture". does this mean trimix is not covered. what about Nitrox?

It gets better

MEDICAL EXPENSES
Only available to individuals and not clubs

Article 2. Exclusions...
blah blahblah.Reimbursement will not be comtemplated for any injury resulting partially or completely;.......
.....from underwater diving and flying sports

OK, so am I to understand what DAN provide is , let me see, ahh yes, "A comprehensive diving insurance program for divers of all levels around the world" - except for those who have been trained beyond air, or actually go, dare I say it, underwater.....


Please tell me I'm going mad. I just want to get on a boat in Norway and dive to a max of 50 metres on nitrox or trimix and know that if I f**k up, I don't to worry about the medical side of things, or getting home

help!

[tom]

Originally Posted by Garf

I just want to get on a boat in Norway and dive to a max of 50 metres on nitrox or trimix and know that if I f**k up, I don't to worry about the medical side of things, or getting home

help!

Doesn't Norway have reciprocal medical arrangements with the UK via the EHIC card? If so, do you need anything being that?

IIRC Adrian K was potted in Norway so he might have some useful info.

[Cussy]

Originally Posted by tom

Doesn't Norway have reciprocal medical arrangements with the UK via the EHIC card? If so, do you need anything being that?

Worth checking, but Norway isn't in the EU/EC
Rob

[tom]

Originally Posted by Cussy

Worth checking, but Norway isn't in the EU/EC
Rob

It's covered by EHIC though. The EHIC: free or reduced cost treatment : Department of Health - Health care

[Ding Dang Doo]

Have you tried Westfield?

They insure me to my certified level. Be worth giving them a bell...

or at least look here...

Westfield Sub Aqua and Marine Insurance for divers

their policy is available as a PDF...

HTH


Pete

[liamm]

i used direct travel
Direct Travel Insurance - Great Value Holiday Insurance and Annual Cover

they were able to recognise my TDi cert and agreed that as long as i dived within the limits of the certification and local regulations they were happy to cover me, no discussion of tri mix though, i'll see if i can pick out the reply then sent me.

[ratcliffe]

I tend to use Divemaster. The seem to be pretty comprehensive certainly for basic diving, although I have had no need to check out the more technical aspects myself. Could be work a look.

I am currently paying about 115 pounds, for travel, medical and diving injury insurance, and they also added riding large powered motorbikes on there (by default you get up to I think it is 250cc).

They are certainly helpful on the phone, so I would ring them up and have a chat about what you need.

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by liamm

i used direct travel
Direct Travel Insurance - Great Value Holiday Insurance and Annual Cover

they were able to recognise my TDi cert and agreed that as long as i dived within the limits of the certification and local regulations they were happy to cover me, no discussion of tri mix though, i'll see if i can pick out the reply then sent me.

Their limit is 50m though they don't care whether you're breathing air or trimix. I asked.

Jason

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by Garf

pardon. What exactly is an "artifical breathing mixture". does this mean trimix is not covered. what about Nitrox?

Trimix is covered. The trouble with the DAN policy is that it's in pidgin English having been translated a little too literally from Italian. Email them if you've got a specific question. They have ppN2 and ppO2 limits on nitrox and trimix but not air. Go figure.

There's no depth limit, but you have to inform in advance for deep stuff, though it's a lot deeper than 55m.

Jason

[Brian of Aquanauts]

DAN will most certainly cover you to those depths. I have their policy and was impressed that it will cover almost anything I want to do with certain ppO2 and ppN2 limits that i'm more than happy to work to.

Brian