Should Scuba Diving Insurance Be Part of Your Next Trip?
For many travelers, it’s not the call of city streets that motivates them to traverse the globe. Instead, the spectacular beauty of the ocean beckons. It offers a world all its own, with much to explore under the sea. With scuba diving, travelers have a chance to do just that – to discover an enchanting underwater world while building unforgettable travel memories. Scuba isn’t an activity to take lightly, though. Even experienced divers know that you always face potentially serious risks. Here’s what frequent scuba diver travelers need to know about scuba diving insurance when they’re planning their next trip.
Best Scuba Diving Insurance Plan
World Nomads Standard and Explorer Plans
World Nomads Adventure Activities Travel Insurance
- Coverage for 150+ adventure activities
- 24/7 emergency assistance
- Baggage and gear cover
The World Nomads Standard and Explorer plans will cover individuals (up to age 70) for over 150 adventure sports activities on their Standard plan and even more on their Explorer plan. The list of covered activities depends on what country you reside in – see this page to determine if your preferred activity is covered.
Scuba Diving Insurance Versus Other Options
Frugal travelers may wonder if they need scuba diving insurance or if they would be better off with extreme sports coverage or a comprehensive general travel medical insurance package with a sports rider that covers Scuba. Choosing the most prudent plan really hinges on a number of factors. For example, are you planning on diving below a depth of 30 meters? Thirty meters is the magic number insurance plans rely on to draw the line between recreational activity and extreme sports participation. Speak with your holiday dive center to get technical information about the depths of the dives. Pass this information along to your insurance provider so you can work together to find the best plan for you.
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Diving Certifications Pay Off in More Ways Than One
Another consideration is whether or not you hold an internationally recognized diving certificate through PADI, SSI NAUI, or another similar organization. Travelers can learn to scuba through independent programs, but the international recognition that comes from PADI, NAUI, and the like offers standards that insurance companies rely on. Be prepared to provide proof of certification for many scuba diving insurance plans or to be directed to extreme sports insurance if you don’t have it.
What Does Scuba Insurance Cover
Remember that most scuba diving insurance covers participation in the sport at a recreational level. If you’re doing something different, such as cave diving or wreck exploration, you’ll have to discuss what’s included in your coverage with your insurance provider. If you’re traveling to learn a new diving skill, ensure your insurance coverage protects you for your current level of certified recreational diving and the more advanced diving you’ll participate in once your course is complete.
Does Travel Insurance Cover Scuba Diving?
Many divers dismiss scuba diving insurance as unnecessary coverage because they don’t consider their recreational diving to be all that adventurous. It’s hard to imagine the need for a hyperbaric chamber or an emergency airlift when you’re gently waving at a fish off the Great Barrier Reef. However, a good scuba diving insurance package will also cover you for less catastrophic, more common medical emergencies. Those emergencies may include a broken ankle from slipping on a boat deck or a horrible coral cut that requires serious stitches and antibiotics. A good insurance program will bring you peace of mind (and practical assistance) for large and more modest emergencies.
World Nomads Adventure Activities Travel Insurance
- Coverage for 150+ adventure activities
- 24/7 emergency assistance
- Baggage and gear cover
Protect All Aspects of Your Scuba Experience
Finally, consider supplementing your insurance with trip cancellation and gear protection insurance. If you’re traveling specifically for diving, and something happens – to you or your destination – that prevents you from diving, you’ll want to be compensated for a vacation that truly isn’t going to happen. Likewise, if you travel with your own custom gear, such as an expensive wetsuit, double-check that it’s within the reimbursement limits of what the airline and your standard travel insurance will cover.