DAN Foundation

What DAN Foundation does

DAN Foundation (operating as Divers Alert Network / DAN) is a 501-style nonprofit membership organization founded in 1980 and headquartered at 6 West Colony Place, Durham, North Carolina. Its stated mission is to help divers in need of medical emergency assistance and to promote dive safety through research, education, products, and diving services. The portfolio centers on DAN Membership (Regular and Enhanced tiers, starting at $40/year), which bundles dive accident insurance (up to $500,000 in eligible medical expenses), DAN TravelAssist emergency transportation benefits ($150K Regular / $500K Enhanced aggregate limit), and access to a 24/7 emergency hotline staffed by doctors, nurses, and paramedics alongside a worldwide Physician Referral Network of dive-medicine-trained physicians.

Underlying the membership, DAN operates a Risk Retention Group (DAN RRG) and the Cayman-based wholly owned subsidiary DAN World Insurance Group SP, which underwrites U.S. and international dive accident, travel, professional/group/general liability, boat/vessel, and commercial property insurance for dive businesses. Education and research are the second revenue and engagement pillar: the DAN E-Learning platform delivers the Continuing Education for Dive Professionals series (over 19,000 completions since 2024, tied to a ~5% liability renewal discount), instructor-led first-aid/CPR/oxygen courses, and Psychological First Aid training. CME courses are jointly provided with the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society at premium resort venues. Four active research contracts with the U.S. Office of Naval Research and multi-institutional collaborations with UNC Chapel Hill, University of Utah, and DEEP anchor the research function.

Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer acquisition through dan.org, channel partnerships with major training agencies (SSI, NAUI, IANTD, SEI) via the Powered By DAN curriculum program, and business-member referrals earning $10 per new member and 20% commission on trip-protection sales. Marketing is anchored by Alert Diver, the widest-circulated dive magazine in the world (200,000+ readers, 80,000 U.S./Canada print households), supplemented by The DANcast podcast, owned blogs, social channels, DEMA Show and regional events, and the e-newsletter. Customer segments are recreational scuba divers (with stated demographics of 78% advanced-certified and 54% household income over $100K), dive professionals and businesses (instructors, divemasters, dive shops, operators), dive-medicine physicians, and diving students covered at no cost by the fully funded Student Membership Program. Recent strategic activity includes leadership succession from Bill Ziefle to Cliff Richardson as President and CEO (~2025), geographic expansion through the 'One Thousand in One Thousand' initiative in Indonesia with the Ministry of Tourism, and curriculum expansion into psychological first aid and legal-drama professional education content.

Name

DAN Foundation

Legal name

Divers Alert Network, Inc.

Website

https://dan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DAN (Divers Alert Network) is a 46-year-old nonprofit providing dive accident insurance up to $500,000, 24/7 emergency medical assistance, professional liability coverage, and safety education to 250,000+ recreational and professional scuba divers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dive Safety Services

NAICS

Insurance Carriers (5241), Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers (52412)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331), Accident & Health Insurance (6321)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Sports & High-Risk Activity Travel/Accident Insurance (FSAJAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accident Medical Expense Insurance (Supplemental Accident) (FSAIALAE), Marine Specialty (Hull/P&I/Cargo) (FSAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Dive accident insurance
• Scuba diving safety
• Emergency medical hotline
• Hyperbaric medicine research
• Diving safety education

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing core benefits including insurance, emergency services, and magazine access. Two tiers: Regular and Enhanced Membership with different coverage limits.
2. Dive Accident Insurance: Insurance products covering dive accidents with plans paying up to $500,000 of eligible accident medical expenses. Includes coverage for nondiving and water sports accidents.
3. Travel Insurance: Travel protection programs with options for single trip or annual coverage, including cancel-for-any-reason provisions and preexisting condition coverage.
4. Professional Liability Insurance: Professional, group professional, and general liability insurance for dive businesses. Also offers boat/vessel coverage and commercial property insurance.
5. Magazine Advertising: Alert Diver magazine (quarterly publication, widest-circulated dive magazine worldwide) generates advertising revenue from dive industry advertisers targeting affluent, active divers.
6. CME Courses: Continuing Medical Education courses for physicians in diving and hyperbaric medicine, offered jointly with UHMS at premium resort locations (e.g., Fiji packages).
7. Referral Rewards: Business members earn $10 per new member referral and 20% commission on DAN Trip Protection policies sold through custom referral links.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

DAN is a membership-based nonprofit organization that provides dive safety services to recreational and professional divers worldwide. Its core offerings are annual DAN Memberships (Regular and Enhanced tiers) bundled with dive accident insurance up to $500,000, DAN TravelAssist emergency evacuation coverage, and a 24/7 emergency hotline staffed by doctors, nurses, and paramedics, supplemented by the Physician Referral Network and dive safety education. Additional revenue comes from professional liability insurance for dive businesses, travel protection, equipment insurance, paid CME courses for physicians, Alert Diver magazine advertising, referral commissions from business members, and grants/donations.

Product overview

DAN (Divers Alert Network) offers a membership-based platform providing dive safety services including insurance products, education/training, and medical support. The core offering centers on DAN Membership (Regular and Enhanced tiers) which includes automatic enrollment in DAN TravelAssist emergency assistance. Insurance products include Dive Accident Insurance (up to $500,000 coverage), Travel Protection, Liability Insurance (professional/group/general), and Equipment Insurance. Education offerings include DAN E-Learning platform hosting Continuing Education courses and Psychological First Aid training, plus DAN CME (Continuing Medical Education) courses for physicians in partnership with UHMS. Additional services include the Physician Referral Network, 24/7 Emergency Hotline, Ask a Medic online consultation, Alert Diver Magazine (quarterly print and digital publication), The DANcast podcast, Student Membership Program, and Referral Rewards for business members. The portfolio is unified through the membership model, with services designed to support divers throughout their diving lifecycle from entry-level training through professional careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alert Diver: The official quarterly publication of Divers Alert Network, read by more than 200,000 active divers - the widest-circulated dive magazine in the world.
• The DANcast
• DAN World
• DAN TravelAssist

Products and services

• DAN Membership (Regular and Enhanced tiers) Annual membership providing core dive safety benefits. Enhanced Membership offers higher coverage limits (up to $500,000 aggregate), DAN TravelAssist enrollment, and a print subscription to Alert Diver magazine. Regular Membership provides core benefits including dive accident insurance up to $150,000 and DAN TravelAssist enrollment. Both automatically enroll members in DAN TravelAssist.
• Dive Accident Insurance Affordable protection against unpredictable expenses from diving accidents and dive travel. Plans pay 100% of eligible accident medical expenses up to US $500,000, with some plans covering nondiving and named water sports accidents.
• Travel Protection Travel insurance with options for one trip or annual coverage, featuring cancel-for-any-reason provision and coverage for preexisting medical conditions.
• Liability Insurance (Professional, Group Professional, General) Professional, group professional, and general liability insurance plans offered by DAN RRG with worldwide coverage for dive businesses. New boat and vessel coverage and commercial property insurance are also available.
• Equipment Insurance Protection coverage for dive equipment offered alongside other DAN insurance products.
• DAN TravelAssist Travel assistance service included with DAN Membership that provides emergency medical evacuation, medically necessary transfer, and medical transportation home benefits. Aggregate benefit limit up to $150,000 for Regular Membership and up to $500,000 for Enhanced Membership.
• 24/7 Emergency Hotline Emergency hotline staffed by doctors, nurses, and paramedics 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to coordinate care and manage evacuations for diving emergencies.
• Physician Referral Network Worldwide network of doctors trained in dive medicine for fitness-to-dive physicals and evaluation of dive-related injuries or symptoms. DAN staff individually match divers with physicians based on location and need.
• Ask a Medic Online service for non-emergency-related health and diving questions. DAN medical specialists respond within 24-48 hours.
• DAN E-Learning Online learning platform offering courses including the Continuing Education for Dive Professionals series, Psychological First Aid (Surface Support), and the Prepared Diver Course for dive safety education.
• First Aid Courses (Instructor-led) Instructor-led courses for dive safety including basic life support, CPR, oxygen administration, and other first aid training for dive injuries.
• DAN CME (Continuing Medical Education) Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine CME courses jointly provided with the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), jointly accredited by ACCME for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and MOC points. Designed for physicians but open to emergency personnel, nurses, and diving professionals, and held at international dive resort venues.
• Powered By DAN Partnership program under which dive training agencies (SSI, NAUI, IANTD, SEI) incorporate DAN's basic life support, CPR, oxygen administration, and other courses onto their own e-learning platforms.
• Student Membership Program Fully DAN-funded program providing up to US$25,000 in Student Dive Accident Insurance during entry-level training. Coverage valid until completion of the last certifying dive or up to 26 weeks after enrollment.
• Alert Diver Magazine Official quarterly print and digital publication of Divers Alert Network, read by more than 200,000 active divers and the widest-circulated dive magazine in the world. Covers dive travel, dive medicine, research, underwater photography, and ecological concerns.
• The DANcast Official podcast of Divers Alert Network delivering safety insights through conversations with divers across the industry. Distributed on YouTube and Spotify.
• Alert Diver App Mobile application for Alert Diver magazine available on the App Store and Google Play, providing digital access to the publication.
• Referral Rewards Program Program for DAN Business Members earning US$10 for each new DAN member referred and 20% commission on DAN Trip Protection policies sold through custom banner ads and referral links.

Quantifiable outcome

• Plans pay 100% of eligible accident medical expenses up to US $500,000
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society (OWUSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAN partners with OWUSS to present internship programs including the Dr. Glen H. Egstrom DAN/OWUSS Divers' Health and Safety Research Intern and DAN/OWUSS Divers' Safety Intern positions. The partnership has supported over 100 interns since 1999.
• SSI (Scuba Schools International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPowered By DAN partner training agency incorporating DAN's basic life support, CPR, oxygen administration, and other courses onto SSI's e-learning platform.
• NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPowered By DAN partner training agency incorporating DAN's first aid curriculum onto NAUI's e-learning platform.
• IANTD (International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPowered By DAN partner training agency incorporating DAN's first aid curriculum onto IANTD's e-learning platform.
• SEI (Safety Training Specialists)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPowered By DAN partner training agency incorporating DAN's first aid curriculum onto SEI's e-learning platform.
• Indonesia Ministry of TourismmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on One Thousand in One Thousand initiative to train 1,000 dive industry professionals with first aid and emergency oxygen skills within 1,000 days. Milestone celebrated April 2026 in Labuan Bajo.
• Office of Naval Research (ONR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAN Research maintains four active contracts and collaborations with ONR. Partnership on Deep Submergence Biomedical Development Program and 2051 Sea Odyssey STEM initiative.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel HillmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-institutional collaboration partner in 2051 Sea Odyssey project to inspire future undersea researchers through docuseries and University Challenge.
• University of UtahmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-institutional collaboration partner in 2051 Sea Odyssey project for STEM initiative in undersea exploration.
• DEEPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational ocean engineering and technology company collaborating on 2051 Sea Odyssey. Finalist teams will present solutions at DEEP in Florida.
• Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint provider of continuing medical education courses in diving and hyperbaric medicine. Jointly accredited by ACCME for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.
• Volivoli Beach Resort, FijiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for DAN | UHMS Spring 2026 Diving & Hyperbaric Medicine CME course (May 2-9, 2026).
• Atlantis Dive Resort, PhilippinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for DAN | UHMS Fall 2026 Diving & Hyperbaric Medicine CME course (August 1-8, 2026).
• Caradonna Dive AdventuresminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel partner managing registration and packages for DAN CME courses at international venues.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• SafetyWing: SafetyWing offers travel and adventure-sport insurance aimed at digital nomads and younger adventure travelers with a tech-forward digital experience. Represents the modern direct-to-consumer threat to traditional specialty insurers like DAN among younger divers.
• Medjet: Medjet is a medical evacuation membership program providing hospital-of-choice transport for travelers. Directly competes with DAN TravelAssist on the medical evacuation benefit and overlaps with DAN's 24/7 emergency response positioning.

Broad incumbents

• World Nomads: World Nomads is a major adventure-travel insurance provider covering activities including scuba diving, with a strong brand among backpackers and adventure travelers. Overlaps with DAN's travel and accident coverage but is broader across all adventure sports and not dive-specialized.
• Global Rescue: Global Rescue provides medical evacuation, security extraction, and travel risk services to adventure travelers and high-risk-activity customers. Overlaps directly with DAN TravelAssist on emergency evacuation and is a credible alternative for divers seeking generalist evacuation coverage.
• International Medical Group (IMG): IMG offers international travel and medical insurance products including adventure-sport riders, serving expatriates, travelers, and high-risk-activity customers. Competes with DAN on travel insurance with optional adventure coverage and broader global distribution.
• AIG Travel: AIG Travel is a large incumbent travel insurance provider offering trip cancellation, medical, and evacuation coverage including for adventure activities. Competes with DAN Travel and Trip Protection products at scale but lacks dive-specific expertise.

Others

• PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors): PADI is the world's largest scuba diver training and certification organization. It is not a direct insurance competitor but represents the largest potential (and currently absent) Powered By DAN-style training agency partner, making it strategically adjacent for member acquisition.
• Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS): UHMS is DAN's partner for jointly accredited CME courses in diving and hyperbaric medicine and the leading professional society for dive medicine physicians. Overlaps with DAN's medical authority and education vertical rather than insurance, making it an ecosystem peer rather than competitor.

Regional players

• DAN Europe: DAN Europe is the regional European affiliate offering equivalent dive emergency hotline, medical advice, and dive accident insurance to European divers. Operates as a peer organization under the broader IDAN umbrella, competing and cooperating with DAN Foundation for international members.

Direct peers

• DiveAssure: DiveAssure is a direct competitor offering dive accident and travel insurance specifically for recreational and technical divers. Closely matches DAN's core product on coverage structure, target customer (certified divers), and global distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DANglobalsafety
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DiversAlertNetworkTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Divers-Alert-Network/27919332696
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/divers-alert-network?trk=company_name
• Instagraminstagram.com/diversalertnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DAN Foundation