You’re no stranger to Divers Alert Network: You know about its recompression chamber network, dive accident coverage, 24/7 emergency hotline and programs for dive professionals. These benefits are why you’ve been a member for years. But to people who are brand new to diving, when you say “DAN” they might think you’re talking about some random guy rather than a dive safety organization with 40 years of experience.
Your students who are just dipping their fins into diving likely won’t know about DAN’s emergency support services. In a world with no shortage of membership organizations, why would your students want one more membership card to stick in their wallet? And why would they need dive accident insurance in addition to the health insurance they most likely already have?
Because of that disconnect, it’s important to let your students know about the ways DAN will be available to support and assist them throughout their diving lives.
You can start the conversation with your students by telling them you enrolled them in DAN Student Medical Expense Coverage (at no cost to you or them). Let them know that after their training is complete, DAN’s low-cost annual membership provides emergency services and informational resources to divers and travelers. Accidents are unfortunately a fact of life, and DAN members have access to evacuation services and a 24/7 emergency hotline. They can also access a non-emergency hotline to speak to a DAN medical specialist and get all of their questions answered — a major anxiety reliever for new students.
Membership also enables divers to purchase dive accident assistance, which is important because many health insurance plans do not cover dive accidents or medical evacuation services. As your students get more comfortable with diving and learn more about it on their, DAN membership facilitates their access to webinars, videos, research, safety guides and much more.
Dive accidents are fortunately rare but do occasionally happen — but this should not be seen as a deterrent to diving. Preparedness in diving is key, and introducing students to DAN membership is one more resource for them as they become self-reliant, prepared divers. Just like home or auto insurance, while it’s not used every day, it is far better to have it should an incident occur.
DAN is so much more than an organization that provides assistance: It can be a source of confidence and encouragement to new divers. Learn more about what’s available for your student divers at World.DAN.org.