 Wetpixel Online - Dedicated to Underwater Photography and Videography - News, Features, Reviews, Classifieds, Photo Contests, and Community Forums
|
  |
Official Insurance Thread |
|
|
|
|
Jan 21 2004, 04:34 PM
|

Eric Cheng

Admin
Posts: 1,196
San Francisco, CA

|
This topic has been revisited many times here (use search!). Two programs that a lot of people around here use: D.E.P.P. (with two Ps): http://www.equipmentprotection.com/programs/depp.htmlDAN Equipment Insurance (what I use): https://www.h2oinsurance.com/Both are reputable, and have given money back to people I know who have lost equipment. DAN gives you cash for replacement, which is great because you aren't locked into buying the same camera again (it may be obsolete by the time it floods). I believe DEPP works by replacement, on their terms (meaning that they can get you the equipment themselves instead of providing cash for you to do your own shopping). Someone correct me if I'm wrong...
--
Eric Cheng - Administrator, Wetpixel -
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 21 2004, 05:02 PM
|

Moray Eel
 
Member
Posts: 84
Oegstgeest, Netherlands

|
QUOTE (echeng @ Jan 21 2004, 05:34 PM) Both are reputable, and have given money back to people I know who have lost equipment. DAN gives you cash for replacement, which is great because you aren't locked into buying the same camera again (it may be obsolete by the time it floods). I believe DEPP works by replacement, on their terms (meaning that they can get you the equipment themselves instead of providing cash for you to do your own shopping). Someone correct me if I'm wrong... I had experience with DEPP during my trip. I was given money back rather than 'equipment' as I was able to buy it myself in Singapore since it was more economical than buy it and having it sent to Singapore (tax + shipping +delay). It took 4 months to get my money back. And I spent A LOT of energy on that. I plan to write a report on my experience with it on my blog some day as I find that such experience are interesting. My main complain is about the lack of visibility about the claim progress and the dramatic communication. As for H2OInsurance they don't cover non us residents.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 22 2004, 12:54 AM
|

Wolf Eel
 
Member
Posts: 134
Hampshire, UK

|
For those residing in the UK another insurance option is DiveMaster InsuranceI have been very pleased with them so far. I have just submitted my first claim for a flooded strobe, so i shall know soon just how good they are. But the first signs are promising, they were very courteous and rang me the day they received my claim to let me know they had received it and that they would be looking at it within a couple of days. The policy is new for old.
--
Dave Hopson
Fuji S2 pro, Ikelite housing, 60mm Nikon macro lens, DS50, Nikon SB-102
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 17 2004, 05:23 AM
|

The Engineer

Admin
Posts: 9,572
Houston TX

|
Hi Simon,
Dan has a similar clause about getting a claim started right away after the item is flooded. They don't require you to send in the gear though, just take it to an authorized service center. I haven't found it to be a problem and just started the claim when I returned form my dive trip. I'd check by calling and asking, then following up by email, so you "have it in writing."
"First aid" for digital SLR cameras is pretty much a joke. The usual first aid for a film camera flood is "soak it in fresh water." Well - that doesn't work with a digital SLR now does it? lol.
Whatever you do, you MUST have camera insurance. It may be the only thing that can save your sanity when (not if) your camera gear gets flooded.
Cheers
James
--
Canon 1DsMkIII - Seacam Housing Dual Ikelite Strobes Photo site - www.reefpix.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 17 2004, 06:59 AM
|

Great Hammerhead
   
Member
Posts: 788
Oregon, USA

|
QUOTE DEPP: They requier to ship Flooded Gear out within 5 days after the flooding occured. What would I do if I am on a live aboard and/or in a part of the world that wont allow me safe shipment.
My italics added above...
My experience with a DEPP claim following a flood while a long way from shipping and service... I took the camera and housing to DEPP's annointed service facility in Australia on the first day this was feasible, they looked at it and sent an email to DEPP saying that repair of the camera was not feasible. I then carried the housing back to the US and shipped it myself to Ikelite for repair.
Time from flood to shipping for repair was more than two weeks, nobody even blinked and the claim was handled in a reasonable and rapid fashion. If I had been in Florida it probably would have been different. I think that there is a certain amount of common sense on the part of the DEPP people in situations like this, and they will not deny a claim if you flooded a camera/housing while a long way from anywhere as long as you show some reasonable effort to notify them as soon as it is actually possible.
--
Why would I take a perfectly good camera underwater?? D300, D200, D70, 12-24 f4 AFS DX, 60mm f2.8, 70-200 f2.8 AF-S VR, 105 f2.8 AF-S VR, Tokina Wunderlens. Photo galleries @ Ruaux.net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 17 2004, 09:28 AM
|

Orca
    
Member
Posts: 1,334
Fort Worth, Texas

|
I wanted to let everyone know about my recent experience with a travel insurance company..... http://www.travelinsured.com
We bought a policy for our liveaboard trip with Nekton to Mona Island last month. I shopped the web and they had the best coverage and price.
I lost my wedding band on the first day of diving. Good thing my wife was with me or I would have gotten a lot more grief!
I didn't have it scheduled on my home owner's policy...my bad!...but I checked with the travel insurance and found that they cover up to $250 per piece of jewelry. Didn't cover the cost of the ring, but it was better than nothing!
I downloaded forms online and mailed everything to them. I got a check in less than two weeks.
A very good experience and I'll use them again!
Karl
--
Karl Dietz...Nikon D200...Ikelite iTTL housing...10.5mm...15mm FE...12-24mm...17-35mm...60mm micro...105mm micro...dual DS-200's www.kdietz.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 26 2004, 08:20 AM
|

The Engineer

Admin
Posts: 9,572
Houston TX

|
I added some equipment before my Hawaii trip in Feb and it cost about $30 to add a thousand dollars or so worth of gear. I wasn't upset about that.
But it may have gone up since then.
Cheers
Jame
--
Canon 1DsMkIII - Seacam Housing Dual Ikelite Strobes Photo site - www.reefpix.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 26 2004, 08:25 AM
|

Great Hammerhead
   
Member
Posts: 880
Westfield, NJ, USA

|
Same here James,but this may be specific to renewals. Insurance rates are sometimes held at a fixed level for the duration of a given policy, so adding gear wouldn't be the same as renewing a policy.
The other alternative is that Joe crossed a threshold, even if the dollar amount was close, and the insurance rates jumped because of that.
My policy is up for renewal in about a month, so if I remember, I'll post then,
--
Tom Shepherd Canon D60 / Sea & Sea DX-3060 Housing 2x Ikelite DS-125, ULCS arms
My Galleries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 29 2004, 02:54 PM
|
Wolf Eel
 
Member
Posts: 131
Big Pine Key, FL

|
Mine nearly doubled last year compared to the year prior. There was not longer than much difference between DAN and DEPP.
--
Don Dixon www.dixonphotos.net Nikon D100, 12-24 AFS, 17-35 AFS, 28-70 AFS, 60mm AFD in Subal D10 w Ike 200s
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 31 2004, 01:27 PM
|

The Devil

Admin
Posts: 4,664
San Francisco, CA

|
Hi, guys. There are two new clauses in the DAN insurance paperwork this year. The first exclusion is:
"ITEMS LOST WHILE IN YOUR CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROL -- WHILE IN USE BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE WATER, DROPPED OVERBOARD OR SWPET OVER-BOARD" (yes, it is listed in all caps)
The second states that if your equipment is stolen, you have to notify the local authorities immediately.
I asked for clarification on the first clause, and I received this as a reply:
"The exclusion states that if your equipment is swept overboard or you lose
equipment while diving, it is not covered. The program is designed to cover
your equipment due to loss while in the possession of the airline, i.e. if
the airlines lose your equipment or it is damaged, and for theft and damage,
i.e. water damage."
What I want is insurance that also covers accidental or forced loss. I will probably drop my camera if I'm in a life-threatening situation and have to ditch it to survive. But once I recover, I want my insurance to cover it.
Any tips?
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 12 2004, 03:49 PM
|

Triggerfish

Member
Posts: 30
Florida

|
Can't remember if mind doubled or not, but it definitely went up. I only added one item and it wasn't expensive.
astrl
--
I'd rather be divin'!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 12 2004, 08:59 PM
|
Moray Eel
 
Industry
Posts: 90

|
Eric and others-
I spent about 5 hours on the phone with both DAN and DEPP this past week. I have policies with both... I've been with DEPP for about 5 years, DAN for 2. Yes, DAN's policy just went up 30%+ and also added a couple of exclusions. Long ago, DEPP's flood premium wasn't too bad... then it went up... DAN offered a slightly better rate on gear until you actually flood it... then, because deductible is so high, you pay through the shorts.
Now, with DAN's increases, I think DEPP offers the better plan- at least if you don't need to insure everything for flood.
I never have flooded gear, but with the new pricey digital cameras out there now it's a real concern. By far the biggest risk for me is theft or loss while traveling.
You are right- DAN's new exclusion (loss, wash overboard, etc.) sucks. I spoke at length with Jay about it. I brought up the emergency camera ditch situation, and they won't cover it. And if I'm standing in a boat shooting whales and drop camera over, they won't cover it anymore. Bad news.
I also argued about the practicality of filing a police report IMMEDIATELY in some overseas locations... Believe me, this sometimes is not possible. DAN couldn't comment...
DAN's problem- no screening mechanism. No price breaks for good record (ie no claims). Lots of claims have resulted in them losing big bucks, according to the execs. DAN has just priced themselves out of the game, if you have lots of gear (say 20-40k) to insure.
Everyone needs to take a serious look at the deductibles... work the numbers between the two plans... for example, to insure say one $10 k gear setup (1ds, lens, and housing, for ex) for flood for one year, and to flood it that year, costs approx $750 for DEPP and $1300 for DAN...
Work the numbers for your own situation....
brandon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 12 2004, 10:37 PM
|

Herbzilla

Super Mod
Posts: 2,126
Northern California

|
I'm considering just covering the camera and lenses. The Aquatica housing looks like it would be easy to resurrect after a flood, same for the ports which I don't think even has a serial number. It also does not look too likely that I'd flood one of the Inon strobes either.
Of course, I would not be covered if I dropped the whole rig in 1000' of water, but that does not seem too likely.
--
Herb Ko http://herbko.net Canon 5D; Aquatica housing; 2 Inon Z220 strobes; Canon 100mm macro, 17-40mm ; Sigma 15mm FE, 24mm macro, 50mm macro
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
|