Whether they’re new divers looking to join or long-time members renewing coverage, divers often ask about the differences between DAN’s membership and dive accident insurance offerings. DAN provides various membership and dive accident insurance options with different coverage levels.
Regardless of membership level or dive accident insurance plan, here is the fundamental distinction: DAN membership covers emergency transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility when you’re at least 50 miles from home, while DAN dive accident insurance covers eligible medical expenses for diving-related injuries.
We recommend combining membership and dive accident insurance to ensure you have coverage for both transportation and medical treatment up to policy limits during diving or travel emergencies. To help you determine the right coverage for your needs, we’ve outlined the differences between membership options (Regular and Enhanced) and dive accident insurance plans (Master, Preferred, and Guardian) below.
Note: This article applies to DAN members who have their principal primary residence in the United States.
DAN Membership
DAN offers two membership levels. Regular Membership includes emergency medical transportation and travel assistance benefits up to $150,000. Enhanced Membership provides the benefits of Regular Membership, plus higher coverage limits (up to $500,000) and additional benefits. Below is a summary comparison of the benefits of the two membership levels. (See Table I for a full breakdown.)
Regular vs. Enhanced Membership*
Shared Benefits
Both membership levels include:
- Emergency medical transportation and travel assistance services when you’re at least 50 miles from home
- Regular: Up to $150,000 / Enhanced: Up to $500,000
- DAN TravelAssist® Benefits
- Medical and safety consultations
- Digital access to Alert Diver magazine, member newsletters, and other resources
- Access to purchase DAN dive accident insurance
Enhanced Membership’s Exclusive Benefits
DAN’s Enhanced Membership builds upon the proven benefits of Regular Membership and adds higher coverage limits and other valuable benefits, including:
- Print subscription to Alert Diver magazine
- Global security evacuation
- Search and rescue coverage when eligible
- Medical transportation home
- This is in addition to the DAN membership benefit that covers emergency transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility.
- Severe infectious disease and quarantine coverage (while outside home country)
- Repatriation for additional care by charter service
Enhanced Membership is not available to residents of New York.
Important: Neither Regular nor Enhanced membership provides coverage for the actual medical costs of dive accidents. Divers should add DAN dive accident insurance for coverage of expenses such as hyperbaric chamber treatments and hospital charges.
DAN Dive Accident Insurance**
DAN dive accident insurance is designed specifically for divers. All DAN members can purchase this annual plan, which covers dive injuries your primary insurance may not. Standard medical insurance often excludes diving as a hazardous activity and may not provide coverage when traveling internationally. For instance, hyperbaric chamber treatments are rarely covered by typical medical or travel insurance. Without proper coverage, you might face significant out-of-pocket costs for deductibles and copays.
DAN dive accident insurance serves as secondary medical coverage and pays 100% of eligible expenses up to either $500,000 per occurrence, $250,000 per occurrence or $125,000 lifetime, depending on the plan. We offer three plans: Master, Preferred, and Guardian. Below is a summary of the differences between dive accident insurance plans.
Guardian vs. Preferred vs. Master Plan
Shared Benefits
The coverage limits and benefits vary between Master, Preferred, and Guardian. However, all DAN dive accident insurance plans include coverage for:
- Accident Medical Expense Coverage for Covered Diving Accidents: Hyperbaric chamber treatment, and physician and hospital charges; Ambulance transportation by ground, air or sea to the nearest hospital or hyperbaric chamber
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment: Coverage for loss of life or limb resulting from a covered diving accident
- Permanent and Total Disability: Coverage if permanently unable to return to work due to a covered diving accident
- Extra Transportation and Accommodation: Coverage for airfare, hotels, meals, and incidentals if the diver’s return travel is delayed due to treatment prescribed by a doctor after a covered diving accident
- Lost Diving Equipment: Coverage for equipment such as a regulator, BCD, dive computer or fins that are unintentionally lost or damaged as a result of a covered diving accident
Preferred Plan and Guardian Plan Exclusive Benefits
The benefits listed above apply to all three dive accident insurance plans. The two higher levels, the Preferred Plan and Guardian Plan, offer higher coverage limits and additional coverage in some areas, including:
- Accident Medical Expense Coverage for non-dive accidents while on a Trip outside home country
- Guardian Only: Accident Medical Expense Coverage for named water sports accidents, such as those sustained while surfing or kayaking, while on a trip
- Guardian Only: Search and rescue for covered diving accidents, when eligible.
Members can access their coverage documents by going to Members.DAN.org/DAN and logging into the member portal. Non-members can learn more about membership and dive accident insurance at DAN.org/Membership-Insurance. Please note that available plans and coverage options vary by U.S. state. For specific information about offerings in your location and complete details on all options, please visit our website or contact us directly.
Our knowledgeable insurance agents are available to help you select the right coverage for your diving activities. Reach us by email at anytime, or call +1-919-684-2948 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
Table I. DAN Membership Level Benefit Comparison*
| Benefit Type | Regular Membership | Enhanced Membership |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medical Transportation and Travel Assistance Benefits Provided while on a Trip: | Aggregate Benefit Limit $150,000 Maximum Amount | Aggregate Benefit Limit $500,000 Maximum Amount |
| Emergency Evacuation and Medically Necessary Transfer | Included in $150,000 limit | Included in $500,000 limit |
| Repatriation of Mortal Remains | Included in $150,000 limit | Included in $500,000 limit |
| Repatriation for Additional Care (by Scheduled Commercial Airline, Watercraft or Ground Transportation) | Included in $150,000 limit | Included in $500,000 limit |
| Return of Dependent Children | Included in $150,000 limit | Included in $500,000 limit |
| Return of a Traveling Companion | Included in $150,000 limit | Included in $500,000 limit |
| Visit of a Family Member or Friend | $1,000 Sublimit, incidentals not included | $5,000 Sublimit, incidentals included |
| Visit of a Traveling Companion | $1,000 Sublimit for all Traveling Companions combined, incidentals not included | $5,000 Sublimit for all Traveling Companions combined, incidentals included |
| Return of Vehicle | $1,000 Sublimit | $1,000 Sublimit |
| Search and Rescue | n/a | $50,000 Sublimit |
| Global Security Evacuation while on a Trip outside Home Country | n/a | $50,000 Sublimit |
| Repatriation for Additional Care (by Charter Service) | n/a | $150,000 Sublimit |
| Medical Transportation Home (by Scheduled Commercial Airline, Watercraft or Ground Transportation) | n/a | Included in $500,000 limit |
| Medical Transportation Home (by Charter Service) | n/a | $150,000 Sublimit |
| Transportation to Rejoin Tour following Medical Emergency (by Scheduled Commercial Airline, Watercraft or Ground Transportation) | n/a | Included in $500,000 limit |
| Repatriation Following Medical Emergency (by Scheduled Commercial Airline, Watercraft or Ground Transportation) | n/a | Included in $500,000 limit |
| Severe Infectious Disease and Quarantine Coverage Benefits provided while Outside Home Country: | Combined Benefit Limit $5,000 Maximum Amount per Insured per Covered Trip | |
| Daily Quarantine Benefit • Per Day Quarantine Benefit Maximum • Trip Quarantine Maximum | n/a | • $250 Sublimit • $1,500 Sublimit |
| Severe Infectious Disease Evacuation Benefit Maximum | n/a | $3,000 Sublimit |
| Severe Infectious Disease Testing Benefit Maximum | n/a | $150 Sublimit |
| Accidental Death Benefit provided while outside Home Country: | n/a | $10,000 Principal Sum |
*View Handbook for complete membership coverage details.
DAN Regular and Enhanced Membership include automatic enrollment in DAN TravelAssist®. Emergency Medical Transportation and Travel Assistance Benefits are available for both diving and non-diving emergencies, with an aggregate benefit limit for Regular Membership up to $150,000 ($100,000 for residents of NY) and an aggregate benefit limit for Enhanced Membership up to $500,000. Enhanced Membership not available for residents of NY.
DAN TravelAssist® benefits are provided by DAN, Travel Guard, and other service providers depending on the benefit. To access these benefits or to request emergency medical transportation or a severe infectious disease evacuation, you must contact DAN TravelAssist for assistance. Emergency medical transportation and severe infectious disease evacuation transportation arranged directly by you may not be reimbursed.
Emergency Medical Transportation and Travel Assistance Benefits and Severe Infectious Disease and Quarantine Coverage Benefits are insured benefits underwritten for residents in the District of Columbia and in all states except New York, by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a Pennsylvania insurance company, with its principal place of business at 1271 Ave of the Americas FL 37, New York, NY 10020-1304. It is currently authorized to conduct insurance business in all states and the District of Columbia. NAIC No. 19445.
For residents of NY, Emergency Medical Transportation and Travel Assistance Benefits insurance is underwritten by The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, NAIC No. 70106 domiciled in the state of New York, with its principal place of business of 28 Liberty Street, Floor 45th, New York, NY 10005-1400. It is currently authorized to transact business in all states, plus DC, except PR. This summary is a brief description of benefits only and is subject to the terms, conditions and limitations. Coverage may vary by state. AG 12070.
This is only a brief description of the coverage(s) available. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions, definitions and termination provisions. Coverage may vary by state or may not be available in all states.
**View Handbook for complete dive accident insurance coverage details.
For residents of NY, insurance is underwritten by The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, NAIC No. 70106 domiciled in the state of New York, with its principal place of business of 28 Liberty Street, Floor 45th, New York, NY 10005-1400. It is currently authorized to transact business in all states, plus DC, except PR. This summary is a brief description of benefits only and is subject to the terms, conditions and limitations. Coverage may vary by state. AG 12070.
For residents of all other U.S. states and the District of Columbia, insurance is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a Pennsylvania insurance company with its principal place of business at 1271 Ave of the Americas FL 37, New York, NY 10020-1304. It is currently authorized to conduct insurance business in all states and the District of Columbia. NAIC No. 19445. This summary provides only brief descriptions of the coverages available. The issued policy and certificate will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions, definitions and termination provisions. Full details of the coverage will be contained in the issued policy and certificate. If there are any conflicts between this summary and the issued policy and certificate, the policy and certificate shall govern in all cases. Coverage may vary by state and may not be available in all states.