Mexico - Insurance and Kit

All,

In a few weeks, my wife and I are going on holiday to Mexico. We have
just passed the PADI open water course, and as part of the course,
purchased the basic kit (mask, goggles, snorkel, wetsuites etc). 2
questions for the group...

1) Is it worth taking all the kit to Mexico if we want to dive (I dont
feel that comftable hiring a wetsuit that has been worn by lots of
other people)
2) Do we need special holiday insurance, or will our bog standard
insurance do (is Skuba diving termed a risk sport?)

Many thanks

John

JaffaB wrote:

> 1) Is it worth taking all the kit to Mexico if we want to dive (I dont
> feel that comftable hiring a wetsuit that has been worn by lots of
> other people)

If you think your kit is comfortable, then I would say certainly. Bear
in mind that the water may be considerably warmer than that which you
trained in, so if you have a two part wetsuit you may get away with only
one bit of it. Having your own kit will also allow you to snorkel
whenever you feel like it, without having to hire any bits of kit.

> 2) Do we need special holiday insurance, or will our bog standard
> insurance do (is Skuba diving termed a risk sport?)

It's worth going through the policy in detail. Many of the cheapo ones
include diving 'to the limit of your qualification', which is fine, but
a number only include 'diving with an instructor'. The gold standard in
my book is that offered by divemaster - I get year round multi trip
cover (both general travel insurance and diving specific medical care)
for about £120. I'm not sure what their rates are for single trips, but
they should be competitive.

http://www.dive-master.net/dmuk.html

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh, UK.
Email false, http://www.benpanter.co.uk
or you could try ben at ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

JaffaB wrote:

> 1) Is it worth taking all the kit to Mexico if we want to dive (I dont
> feel that comftable hiring a wetsuit that has been worn by lots of
> other people)

If you think your kit is comfortable, then I would say certainly. Bear
in mind that the water may be considerably warmer than that which you
trained in, so if you have a two part wetsuit you may get away with only
one bit of it. Having your own kit will also allow you to snorkel
whenever you feel like it, without having to hire any bits of kit.

> 2) Do we need special holiday insurance, or will our bog standard
> insurance do (is Skuba diving termed a risk sport?)

It's worth going through the policy in detail. Many of the cheapo ones
include diving 'to the limit of your qualification', which is fine, but
a number only include 'diving with an instructor'. The gold standard in
my book is that offered by divemaster - I get year round multi trip
cover (both general travel insurance and diving specific medical care)
for about £120. I'm not sure what their rates are for single trips, but
they should be competitive.

http://www.dive-master.net/dmuk.html

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh, UK.
Email false, http://www.benpanter.co.uk
or you could try ben at ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

JaffaB wrote:

> 1) Is it worth taking all the kit to Mexico if we want to dive (I dont
> feel that comftable hiring a wetsuit that has been worn by lots of
> other people)

If you think your kit is comfortable, then I would say certainly. Bear
in mind that the water may be considerably warmer than that which you
trained in, so if you have a two part wetsuit you may get away with only
one bit of it. Having your own kit will also allow you to snorkel
whenever you feel like it, without having to hire any bits of kit.

> 2) Do we need special holiday insurance, or will our bog standard
> insurance do (is Skuba diving termed a risk sport?)

It's worth going through the policy in detail. Many of the cheapo ones
include diving 'to the limit of your qualification', which is fine, but
a number only include 'diving with an instructor'. The gold standard in
my book is that offered by divemaster - I get year round multi trip
cover (both general travel insurance and diving specific medical care)
for about £120. I'm not sure what their rates are for single trips, but
they should be competitive.

http://www.dive-master.net/dmuk.html

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh, UK.
Email false, http://www.benpanter.co.uk
or you could try ben at ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

JaffaB wrote:

> 1) Is it worth taking all the kit to Mexico if we want to dive (I dont
> feel that comftable hiring a wetsuit that has been worn by lots of
> other people)

If you think your kit is comfortable, then I would say certainly. Bear
in mind that the water may be considerably warmer than that which you
trained in, so if you have a two part wetsuit you may get away with only
one bit of it. Having your own kit will also allow you to snorkel
whenever you feel like it, without having to hire any bits of kit.

> 2) Do we need special holiday insurance, or will our bog standard
> insurance do (is Skuba diving termed a risk sport?)

It's worth going through the policy in detail. Many of the cheapo ones
include diving 'to the limit of your qualification', which is fine, but
a number only include 'diving with an instructor'. The gold standard in
my book is that offered by divemaster - I get year round multi trip
cover (both general travel insurance and diving specific medical care)
for about £120. I'm not sure what their rates are for single trips, but
they should be competitive.

http://www.dive-master.net/dmuk.html

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh, UK.
Email false, http://www.benpanter.co.uk
or you could try ben at ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

JaffaB wrote:

> 1) Is it worth taking all the kit to Mexico if we want to dive (I dont
> feel that comftable hiring a wetsuit that has been worn by lots of
> other people)

If you think your kit is comfortable, then I would say certainly. Bear
in mind that the water may be considerably warmer than that which you
trained in, so if you have a two part wetsuit you may get away with only
one bit of it. Having your own kit will also allow you to snorkel
whenever you feel like it, without having to hire any bits of kit.

> 2) Do we need special holiday insurance, or will our bog standard
> insurance do (is Skuba diving termed a risk sport?)

It's worth going through the policy in detail. Many of the cheapo ones
include diving 'to the limit of your qualification', which is fine, but
a number only include 'diving with an instructor'. The gold standard in
my book is that offered by divemaster - I get year round multi trip
cover (both general travel insurance and diving specific medical care)
for about £120. I'm not sure what their rates are for single trips, but
they should be competitive.

http://www.dive-master.net/dmuk.html

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh, UK.
Email false, http://www.benpanter.co.uk
or you could try ben at ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

JaffaB wrote:

> 1) Is it worth taking all the kit to Mexico if we want to dive (I dont
> feel that comftable hiring a wetsuit that has been worn by lots of
> other people)

If you think your kit is comfortable, then I would say certainly. Bear
in mind that the water may be considerably warmer than that which you
trained in, so if you have a two part wetsuit you may get away with only
one bit of it. Having your own kit will also allow you to snorkel
whenever you feel like it, without having to hire any bits of kit.

> 2) Do we need special holiday insurance, or will our bog standard
> insurance do (is Skuba diving termed a risk sport?)

It's worth going through the policy in detail. Many of the cheapo ones
include diving 'to the limit of your qualification', which is fine, but
a number only include 'diving with an instructor'. The gold standard in
my book is that offered by divemaster - I get year round multi trip
cover (both general travel insurance and diving specific medical care)
for about £120. I'm not sure what their rates are for single trips, but
they should be competitive.

http://www.dive-master.net/dmuk.html

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh, UK.
Email false, http://www.benpanter.co.uk
or you could try ben at ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

JaffaB wrote:

> 1) Is it worth taking all the kit to Mexico if we want to dive (I dont
> feel that comftable hiring a wetsuit that has been worn by lots of
> other people)

If you think your kit is comfortable, then I would say certainly. Bear
in mind that the water may be considerably warmer than that which you
trained in, so if you have a two part wetsuit you may get away with only
one bit of it. Having your own kit will also allow you to snorkel
whenever you feel like it, without having to hire any bits of kit.

> 2) Do we need special holiday insurance, or will our bog standard
> insurance do (is Skuba diving termed a risk sport?)

It's worth going through the policy in detail. Many of the cheapo ones
include diving 'to the limit of your qualification', which is fine, but
a number only include 'diving with an instructor'. The gold standard in
my book is that offered by divemaster - I get year round multi trip
cover (both general travel insurance and diving specific medical care)
for about £120. I'm not sure what their rates are for single trips, but
they should be competitive.

http://www.dive-master.net/dmuk.html

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh, UK.
Email false, http://www.benpanter.co.uk
or you could try ben at ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

JaffaB wrote:

> 1) Is it worth taking all the kit to Mexico if we want to dive (I dont
> feel that comftable hiring a wetsuit that has been worn by lots of
> other people)

If you think your kit is comfortable, then I would say certainly. Bear
in mind that the water may be considerably warmer than that which you
trained in, so if you have a two part wetsuit you may get away with only
one bit of it. Having your own kit will also allow you to snorkel
whenever you feel like it, without having to hire any bits of kit.

> 2) Do we need special holiday insurance, or will our bog standard
> insurance do (is Skuba diving termed a risk sport?)

It's worth going through the policy in detail. Many of the cheapo ones
include diving 'to the limit of your qualification', which is fine, but
a number only include 'diving with an instructor'. The gold standard in
my book is that offered by divemaster - I get year round multi trip
cover (both general travel insurance and diving specific medical care)
for about £120. I'm not sure what their rates are for single trips, but
they should be competitive.

http://www.dive-master.net/dmuk.html

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh, UK.
Email false, http://www.benpanter.co.uk
or you could try ben at ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

JaffaB wrote:

> 1) Is it worth taking all the kit to Mexico if we want to dive (I dont
> feel that comftable hiring a wetsuit that has been worn by lots of
> other people)

If you think your kit is comfortable, then I would say certainly. Bear
in mind that the water may be considerably warmer than that which you
trained in, so if you have a two part wetsuit you may get away with only
one bit of it. Having your own kit will also allow you to snorkel
whenever you feel like it, without having to hire any bits of kit.

> 2) Do we need special holiday insurance, or will our bog standard
> insurance do (is Skuba diving termed a risk sport?)

It's worth going through the policy in detail. Many of the cheapo ones
include diving 'to the limit of your qualification', which is fine, but
a number only include 'diving with an instructor'. The gold standard in
my book is that offered by divemaster - I get year round multi trip
cover (both general travel insurance and diving specific medical care)
for about £120. I'm not sure what their rates are for single trips, but
they should be competitive.

http://www.dive-master.net/dmuk.html

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh, UK.
Email false, http://www.benpanter.co.uk
or you could try ben at ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^