DAN coverage when diving Cuba?

[flopnfly]

Lastest update on DAN Insurance for Canadians diving in Cuba:  DAN Europe & DAN Asia have gotten back to me and have confirmed that their respective insurance policies cover diving in Cuba.  However, Canadians cannot buy DAN Europe Insurance or DAN Asia Insurance as we are not residents.  Canada falls under DAN America and so far, neither DAN Asia nor DAN Europe can get anything from their American colleagues in respect to Canadians being covered in Cuba. (Which is very misleading as a large number of DAN insurance is sold in Canada to Canadians planning their Cuban dive vacation). 

The best bet?  Get separate insurance (preferably from a non-American interest company which itself is hard these days) for Cuba, and make sure Cuba is specifically written into the policy. 

Another option for those with multiple residency, would be to buy DAN outside of DAN Americas.

On another interesting note:
should something bad happen, the dive operation can call DAN medical for advice as non-profits, research & education do not fall under the US embargo which is purely an economic embargo.  The DAN line is drawn when there is money involved, i.e. chamber charges, emerg evac, individual insurance.


 

[Pacific State 808]

This is an interesting point that Heather makes.

It seems poor that DAN America cannot communicate back to you direct regarding if their insurance policies are valid in Cuba. I would imagine there are many Canadian divers who are diving in Cuba presuming they are covered if anything goes wrong ?

I would not dive anywhere in the world without DAN, fortunately I am covered under a European membership. I would rather miss Cuba out for diving then dive without it.

It will be interesting to hear what response you get back from DAN America when they get round to replying.

[Tuss]

How do you get DAN insurance?  Sounds like a good idea since most travel insurance plans have an exclusion clause about diving (ie. they won't cover you if you get injured diving).  I didn't realize dive insurance was possible.

[JohnnyCastaway]

https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/

you can order it online, they'll send you a card a couple of weeks later.   in the mean time  you can print out a temporary card.  Make sure you flash it to any dive op that you're going with so that they know you have it, as well as your partner.

[Gambitt]

Hmmm... I wonder?

If I used our Family farm in Italy as my "residence" address, then could I get DAN thru their Europe office to be covered in Cuba?  Dad still owns land over there, so technically I could be "living there".

[SharonAnn]

Hmmm... I wonder?

If I used our Family farm in Italy as my "residence" address, then could I get DAN thru their Europe office to be covered in Cuba?  Dad still owns land over there, so technically I could be "living there".

Wow, don't think the validity of residence would really hold up if challenged by an insurance company.  From casual observation you don't screw with half-truths with insurance companies.  Claim denials usually always go in their favour.

[Pacific State 808]

https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/

 Make sure you flash it to any dive op that you're going with so that they know you have it, as well as your partner.

Very good point, I always write my DAN membership number along the top of any registration paperwork that they ask you to fill out prior to diving just to make sure they have my details and policy number.

[JohnnyCastaway]

Hmmm... I wonder?

If I used our Family farm in Italy as my "residence" address, then could I get DAN thru their Europe office to be covered in Cuba?  Dad still owns land over there, so technically I could be "living there".

Insurance companies and Loopholes and reasons NOT to pay out...

need I say more?