Who insures dive shops and dive boats?
Dive shops and dive boats is a risk most standard carriers decline on sight. The markets below say in their own published appetite or program pages that they write it; each line links to that page with the date it was read.
3 markets publicly write dive shops and dive boats: DAN (Divers Alert Network) / DAN Risk Retention Group, Johnson, Kendall & Johnson (JKJ) with First Dive / Owl Underwriting Agency, XINSURANCE (Evolution Insurance Brokers). 2 program administrators, 1 wholesaler. 1 through surplus lines.
By Sam Alishahi, independent insurance broker
Who says they write it
From each market's own appetite, product or program page (or a trade article quoting it), read on the date shown. Appetites change: the linked page controls. A market listed here isn't necessarily one this agency is appointed with; a licensed broker reaches most of them directly or through a wholesaler.
| Market | What they say they write | Where | Paper | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAN (Divers Alert Network) / DAN Risk Retention Group Program administrator | Group Professional Liability for dive centers and stores covering all dive professionals on staff under one policy, insured by DAN Risk Retention Group (DAN RRG); DAN World Insurance Group SP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Divers Alert Network “Dive centers and stores in all 50 US states can select Group Professional Liability from DAN RRG” | all 50 US states (page: 'Coverage available to businesses in all 50 US states'; coverage may vary) | not stated | dan.org · read 2026-10-28 |
| Johnson, Kendall & Johnson (JKJ) with First Dive / Owl Underwriting Agency Program administrator | Recreational scuba diving industry products developed with First Dive / Owl Underwriting Agency, Inc.: Dive Facility Package (dive stores and resorts) and Dive Vessel Package (coverage for divers in the water); also charters, yachts, commercial fishing boats via Charter Lakes “covering everything from dive shops, boats, instructors, and gear,” | not stated (CA P&C/surplus lines license listed) | not stated | jkj.com · read 2026-10-28 |
| XINSURANCE (Evolution Insurance Brokers) Wholesaler | Scuba diving insurance for dive shops and dive instructors; watercraft liability can cover physical damage for the watercraft used for scuba diving; dive charters/dive boats not named. Site: 'an excess and surplus lines insurance brokerage' “XINSURANCE will provide scuba diving insurance solutions that are tailored to your unique needs.” | not stated | Surplus lines | xinsurance.com · read 2026-10-28 |
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