Student Membership
Enrol your entry-level dive students. Make sure your students are safe from their very first breaths as divers. DAN student membership is free of charge to the students of DAN members from the first pool session to the qualifying dive or for a duration of six weeks. As entry-level divers, students often are not aware of all the safety aspects and possible risks associated with scuba diving. To cater specifically for these needs, DAN has developed the student membership package.
Eligibility to participate. Student Membership is open to any entry-level diver. The scuba student can only be registered by a certified instructor teaching in the DAN-SA region who is an active DAN-SA Master member.
Note - DAN-SA cover is referred to as secondary coverage. Wherever possible, DAN-SA will arrange for expenses to be covered firstly by any other primary travel or medical insurance(s) your student may have, but we ensure that the student remains covered for emergency medical expenses, usually including possible shortfalls or policy restrictions.
Eligibility to participate. Student Membership is open to any entry-level diver. The scuba student can only be registered by a certified instructor teaching in the DAN-SA region who is an active DAN-SA Master member.
Note - DAN-SA cover is referred to as secondary coverage. Wherever possible, DAN-SA will arrange for expenses to be covered firstly by any other primary travel or medical insurance(s) your student may have, but we ensure that the student remains covered for emergency medical expenses, usually including possible shortfalls or policy restrictions.
Please be advised that DAN Southern Africa (DAN-SA) is a Non-Profit Company (NPC) under the new Companies Act. DAN-SA’s primary mission is to provide emergency medical advice and assistance for underwater diving injuries, to work to prevent injuries and to promote dive safety. DAN-SA is a membership based company and provides membership benefits, not insurance or medical aid. DAN-SA is the owner of a group policy with benefits that are extended to its members. DAN-SA is the insured party and DAN-SA members receive the benefits of DAN-SA’s insurance. DAN-SA members help support a 24-hour hotline. This hotline offers access to specialists trained in diving medicine and is freely available to anyone with a diving-related query. DAN-SA does not own emergency vehicles (helicopters, ambulances, response vehicle or any other associated emergency vehicles); we rely on third party emergency services and on their availability at the time of an incident. Furthermore DAN-SA does not own hospitals, hyperbaric chambers and we do not legislate diving rules or laws. Kindly download the DAN-SA terms and conditions (T&C’s) to familiarise yourself regarding the DAN-SA service by following this link or you can contact DAN-SA via email at mail@dansa.org or refer to the guides available via the DAN-SA website at www.dansa.org.
All membership applications are usually processed within 2 days. If you don't hear from us within 48 hours after submitting an application please contact the DAN-SA office directly on +27 11 266 4900 or at mail@dansa.org. Please note that the DAN administrative office is closed on weekends and public holidays.
How To File a Claim
Learn how to file a claim for medical expenses related to a diving injury or a travel-related medical emergency covered under DAN-SA membership benefits.
Entry-Level Freediving Students
Freediving instructors who are active DAN members and teach a recognised course within the DAN Southern Africa region can register their freediving entry-level students on the DAN Student Membership package. The recognised course details need to be specified on the application for registration.
Entry-Level Spearfishing Students
Spearfishing instructors who are active DAN members and teach a recognised course within the DAN Southern Africa region can register their spearfishing entry-level students on the DAN Student Membership package. The recognised course details need to be specified on the application for registration.
As entry-level divers, students are often not aware of all the safety aspects and possible risks associated with scuba diving. To cater specifically for these needs, DAN-SA has developed the student membership package. Now you can ensure your students are safe from their very first breath as divers.
Student Membership FAQ's
What is DAN-SA Student Membership?
DAN-SA Student Membership offers entry-level divers in the DAN-SA region limited emergency medical benefits for the duration of their entry-level training. It provides up to R300 000 emergency medical service benefits at no cost to the diver or the instructor who teaches them. It is about providing peace of mind to students and instructors alike.
Who is eligible to participate?
Student Membership is open to any entry-level diver. The student can only be registered by a certified instructor teaching in the DAN-SA region who is an active Master DAN-SA member.
Freediving and spearfishing instructors who are active Master members and teach a recognised course within the DAN-SA region can register their freediving or spearfishing entry-level students. The recognised course details need to be specified on the application for registration.
Freediving and spearfishing instructors who are active Master members and teach a recognised course within the DAN-SA region can register their freediving or spearfishing entry-level students. The recognised course details need to be specified on the application for registration.
How much does it cost?
It is free to entry-level students and certified instructors. There is no obligation to join DAN-SA as a full member after completing the entry-level training.
For how long is the membership active?
Student Membership is valid as soon as a registration is received by DAN-SA. The student membership commences on the date the student membership roster is received from the registering instructor and lasts until the end of the final dive needed for certification or for six weeks, whichever comes sooner.
How are students enrolled?
Instructors need to sign up their students at the beginning of a course. Instructors can apply online or even download the application form for the Student Membership from the website. Upon qualifying, we hope that newly-certified divers will realise the benefits of becoming full DAN-SA members.
Upon receipt of a student’s registration, both the student and the instructor will receive, via email, a confirmation of registration and the student’s new student member number.
Upon receipt of a student’s registration, both the student and the instructor will receive, via email, a confirmation of registration and the student’s new student member number.
Why do students need membership?
Instructors have asked why students should have membership since they are not exposed to the same diving risks as certified divers. DAN-SA offers (complementary) cover to student divers because their risk is indeed much lower. However, injuries can still occur during instruction. In fact, according to DAN-SA’s annual report on Decompression Illness and Diving Fatalities, student injuries have been the third and fourth leading diving activity associated with diving injuries during the past several years.
What are the benefits the student receives?
The student is covered for all the benefits of DAN-SA Student Membership, including emergency medical expenses and assistance services.
Are there any special considerations?
Yes, there are. You will not be able to register entry-level students that are 75 years or older. Entry-level students must at all times be accompanied by a certified instructor. The general depth limit for entry-level students is 18 m or as specified by the recognised training agency the instructor is certified with.
Does the student membership replace medical aid or primary insurance?
No, DAN-SA membership is secondary to any other medical aid or travel insurance the student might have.
Student Membership benefits
Student Membership benefits