Professional Liability Insurance (Individual and Group)
DAN World Insurance Group SP is here to help with your liability insurance needs. Contact DAN World IGSP at +1 (919) 684-2948 Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm ET or emailing
Eligibility & Enrollment
Currently, DAN World Insurance Group SP can only enroll (i) dive professionals who reside in select Caribbean countries and U.S. and British Territories who hold credentials from an approved training agency. DAN is working with other carriers to offer liability coverage in other countries and territories. Check back for updates.
DAN World Insurance Group SP liability insurance is accepted by all major training agencies. This includes PADI, NAUI, SDI, SSI, TDI, IANTD, PDIC, PFI, PSS, RAID, NASE, AIDA, SEI and others. If your training agency is not listed, contact a liability insurance specialist to learn about coverage.
Yes. The DAN World Insurance Group SP policy meets the insurance requirements of all dive training agencies.
Yes, the professional liability insurance (individual and group) provides options for those who do not teach scuba but are qualified to teach freediving, RSSA (Recreational Surfaced-Supplied Air) diving, swimming, skin diving, and snorkeling.
All qualified dive professionals are eligible for coverage under the DAN World Insurance Group SP policy provided they meet any age requirements of their training agency. DAN World Insurance Group SP does not place limitations on the training standards developed by the training agencies and closely follows the recommended guidelines established by these agencies.
You must complete the application found at World.DAN.org/Liability.
Currently, there is no limit to the number of staff members that can be covered under your group professional liability policy. But remember, all staff members share the single policy limit.
Coverage / Limits
DAN World Insurance Group SP offers professional liability (individual and group) insurance. Dive pros may also purchase DAN-sponsored dive accident or trip/travel insurance.
The effective date is generally 12:01 a.m. on the day after you submit your application, however, approval may take up to 48 hours. If you prefer a later effective date, you may choose the date you would like coverage to begin. To avoid a lapse in coverage, please submit your application prior to the expiration date. There is no grace period.
Yes. It is wise to have both types of insurance because each product provides different benefits. Professional, group professional and general liability insurance protects you when a student or customer is injured and files a claim against you or your business. DAN dive accident insurance protects you against hyperbaric chamber costs, physician and hospital fees, and ambulance charges incurred in the event of a diving injury. Liability insurance and dive accident insurance are not interchangeable, and the benefits do not overlap.
We do not offer short-term policies. Our policies have a term of 12 months.
The professional liability policy (both individual and group) is a claims-made policy, meaning that coverage is triggered when a claim is made against the insured and it is reported to the underwriter while the policy is in force. If a claim is made while the policy is not in force, there is no coverage for that claim.
The professional liability policy (both individual and group) offers worldwide coverage.
All professional liability policies (individual and group) cover the insured for teaching public safety diving. However, the insured would not be covered while working as a public safety diver.
Yes, the professional liability policies (individual and group) cover the insured when training in a national park.
No, DAN World Insurance Group SP liability insurance does not protect you or your business from claims arising from or related to COVID-19. Infectious diseases are excluded from the policy; this is common with most liability insurance policies in the industry.
The professional (individual and group) liability insurance policies do not include a specific pandemic exclusion. However, all policies contain an exclusion for losses arising from a communicable disease, which would include pandemic.
Yes, Rebreather and/or Technical Dive Training are included in the policy for qualified professionals. Applicants must carry the appropriate certifications and ratings for the equipment used for coverage to be valid.
Yes, this is a claims-made policy and covers all claims made during the policy term, provided the incident/loss occurred subsequent to the earliest date from which you have had continuous professional liability insurance coverage. That coverage could have been with another insurance carrier, but it must have been continuous. If you experienced a gap in coverage or if this is new coverage, there is no prior acts coverage.
Coverage is the same as under an individual policy, but note the following:
1. All staff listed under a group policy share a single limit of liability ($1 million/ $2 million aggregate) and that limit is reduced each time a claim is made.
2. Coverage only applies to professional services provided by your staff to the store’s customers. If a dive professional teaches or leads a dive trip with someone who is not a customer of the dive shop, the dive professional has no coverage.
The professional liability (individual and group) insurance policies have a limit of $1 million per claim / $2 million aggregate.
Each case will be subject to state law and fact dependent, but understand that a plaintiff can file suit against you regardless, and place the burden of proof upon you to defend.
Yes, the group professional liability policy is designed to cover a professional for services provided under the guidelines of any of the approved training agencies. However, with a group policy the professional services must be provided to customers of the insured dive business. Professional services you provide outside the scope of your responsibilities as an employee or independent contractor of the dive business are not covered under a group policy.
Defense costs are included in the aggregate policy limit of the professional liability (individual and group) liability policies.
Endorsements / Changes Policy
We do not have any endorsements in the DAN World liability policy.
There is no additional cost to add additional insureds or teaching staff. There are no additional fees for upgrades, but there may be an additional premium depending on what’s added to the policy.
Additional insureds are third parties who can be added to the policy at no additional cost. The listed additional insureds are then protected under your policy and have coverage against claims that result from professional services you (the named insured) provide as a dive leader, instructor or business owner. Instructors or divemasters may not be added as additional insureds; they must have their own professional liability coverage or be listed as insured staff members under a group policy.
Yes, changes can be made at any time. You can add/remove staff or add/remove additional named insureds. Contact a liability representative for assistance.
Renewals
If you want continuous coverage, you need to renew no later than the day before your existing policy expires. Renewal notices will be sent to remind you; however, you can renew as late as the day before your policy is due to expire to keep your coverage without lapsing. There is no grace period.
Since professional liability insurance is a claims-made policy, it requires you to have coverage at the time the claim is made. If a claim is made and your coverage has lapsed, you will not be covered. You should purchase tail coverage to be protected.
Yes, tail coverage is available to protect you against claims that are made after you have retired. After a few years(the length of time depends on the state), the ability of an injured diver to bring a claim expires and tail coverage is no longer needed.
Automatic renewal is not currently available for professional (individual and group) insurance policies. Each policy must be renewed manually each year. You will receive a renewal notice in advance of the renewal date.
Premiums / Payment
All policies require payment in full at the time of enrollment. All premiums are fully earned, and there are no refunds.
Support
A variety of risk mitigation programs are available, including the following:
- Brochures and other materials on diving safety, available in print and digital
- Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) – 3 levels (2 are self-assessments)
- Prepared Diver Course (e-learning program which reminds divers of the causes of diving accidents)
- Complementary student insurance (to offset the cost of an injury to your student)
- DIDS Boards (to count divers on the boat)
- Oxygen and first aid kits, and training, to respond to injuries
Yes, all designated training agencies will be notified about your purchase of liability insurance; no action is required by you. However, additional insureds will only be notified at your request.
Upon payment of your premium, your liability documents will be sent to the email address on your application. You will be provided with a Declarations Page which describes the coverage you have purchased. If you have listed additional insureds, they will be provided with a separate certificate of insurance. Once your policy goes into effect, you can also log in to your account at DAN.org/Liability to print your declaration page and insurance card at any time.
Complete an incident report to gather the relevant information. Once this is done, call 1-800-446-2671 (+1-919-684-2948) and speak with one of the customer service representative for the DAN liability program, or email the report to . If the incident involves a fatality or serious bodily injury, please contact DAN immediately at 1-800-684-9111 so that we can take steps to protect your interests.
Liability Customer Service
DAN World Insurance Products SP’s Liability Insurance team is ready to help you protect you or your business.
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. ET
+1-919-684-2948
FAX: +1 (919) 490-2935
Incidents And Claims
Collect all relevant information and send it to DAN World Insurance Products SP. If the incident involves a fatality or serious bodily injury, contact us immediately.
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. ET
+1-919-684-2948
Liability Insurance Resources
Liability Insurance FAQs
Subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of DAN World Insurance Group SP Policy PL110 (22 June 2023), GPL110 (22 June 2023). Coverage is not available in all countries.
DAN World Insurance Group SP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Divers Alert Network, with offices at c/o Artex Risk Group, 3rd Floor, Willow House, Cricket Square, 171 Elgin Ave., P O Box 10233, Grand Cayman KY1-1002 Cayman Islands.