Insurance Information for Dive Travel

Insurance

Divemaster recommends that you ensure you have appropriate insurance to cover you whilst you are Scuba Diving. It is essential to have insurance that will give you peace of mind cover for anything from a shallow reef dive to more daring wreck dives. The cost of medical treatment for conditons such as the bends, usually including a stay in a hyperbaric chamber is notoriously expensive if you don't have adequate insurance. Diving gear is generally expensive, so you need to make sure this is covered too.

Important elements of your holiday that should be covered by specialist scuba diving insurance include:

Cancellation of your holiday

Having to cut short your holiday to return home

Potential emergency medical costs (hyperbaric treatment is extremely costly)

Missed departure

Travel Delays

Personal Belongings

Diving Equipment (make sure this cover is adequate for the cost of your equipment)

Covered to the relevant depth, and for the correct qualification

Many travel insurance policies will include scuba diving on their policies as standard, but usually restrict this to a maximum depth of 18m, with the condition that a qualified guide is in attendance. It’s essential to check the small print prior to purchasing to make sure this is the case.

At additional costs, insurance can be upgraded to cover greater depths, although higher scuba diving qualifications will be required. Depths are then allowed generally up to 30m, although some insurers will cover depths of up to 50m for the relevant qualification.

If you are planning on doing cave/cavern or cenote diving, it’s recommend you check that this is covered, as some insurers will exclude this from their policies.

If you are a qualified instructor of scuba diving, it is advisable to purchase insurance that has a liability element to cover any accidents involving your students whilst under your care.