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9 Best Scuba Travel Insurance Options for Divers

Woman Scuba Diving in the Ocean
Published on: June 28, 2021
Last updated: September 24, 2024

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Vandita Jadeja

Written by Vandita Jadeja

Navigating the world of numbers and narratives with equal aplomb, Vandita Jadeja effortlessly blends her expertise as a CPA with her passion for storytelling. As a prominent luxury hotel reviewer, her discerning eye and eloquent prose grace the pages of numerous websites, and her personal blog, Miss Hotel Reviewer, stands as a testament to her keen insights and lavish tastes.

Scuba diving is a joyful and thrilling activity. It introduces you to a whole new world in the sea; if you try it, you will have the experience of a lifetime. However, you must take the necessary steps to maintain your safety when scuba diving. The first thing you need to do is buy scuba travel insurance.

Choosing an ideal dive insurance package is crucial. You need to choose one that is suitable for your trip and will cover all the different types of dives you will be doing. Additionally, you need insurance to engage in other adventure activities.

Summary of Our Top Plans

Best Overall Insurance World Nomads
Best Travel Medical Insurance CoverAmerica – Gold®
Best Budget Insurance ChoiceAmerica

Let us look at the best scuba travel insurance and consider their perks while comparing the prices. This will help you discover the best dive insurance company for you.  

Best Scuba Diving Travel Insurance 

1. World Nomads

World Nomads Logo

World Nomads is a highly reputable travel insurance company with a strong presence in the backpacker scene. World Nomads offers travel insurance and diving insurance rolled into one.

If you scuba dive, you are in good hands with this global insurance company, where you will be provided with both adventure travel as well as travel assistance during destination vacations based solely on scuba dives.

Besides diving, World Nomads also covers more than 200 adventure activities, including bungee jumping and altitude trekking. Like what you are hearing? Read more in our full World Nomads travel insurance review.

Here are some key features of World Nomads and why they are a leader:

  • Covers most diving accidents, even for recreational divers
  • Protects your equipment and dive gear
  • Provides emergency evacuation and hospitalization coverage
  • Offers worldwide protection for any diving

2. AIG Travel Guard

Travel Guard Logo

Regarding adventure travel insurance, AIG Travel Guard is one of the best options available. They offer various coverage options, including trip cancellation, medical expenses, and baggage loss.

They also have a 24/7 emergency assistance line, which can be extremely helpful if you encounter traveling problems.

  • Insure your travel with industry-leading protection
  • Plans come with 24/7 travel assistance for peace of mind
  • Millions of people have chosen Travel Guard over the last 20 years
  • Protect your investment and receive coverage for trip cancellations, delays, lost or stolen luggage, and more

3. Travelex

Travelex Insurance Logo

Travelex offers travel insurance that will reimburse you for the eligible losses. It has no deductibles and is one of the market’s most highly reliable insurance plans.

If you do not want cancellation coverage, you can opt for a $0 trip cost level and receive all the other plan benefits, including a $500 trip interruption coverage.

They offer dive insurance coverage up to a depth of 50 feet, and you must be covered by a divemaster to be certified to dive. It offers three plans – Travel Basic, Travel Select, and Travel America.

The basic plan will provide basic coverage for the family at a low cost, while the Travel Select plan will offer extensive coverage for those who want additional security.

The Travel America plan will protect you while you explore the US. Travelex offers 24/7 access to travel assistance.

Like what you are hearing? Read more in our full Travelex insurance review.

4. TravelInsurance.com

Travelinsurance.com logo

If you’re looking for the best travel insurance for scuba diving and other adventure sports, TravelInsurance.com is a perfect choice. They offer comprehensive coverage for all types of water sports, including diving, snorkeling, and parasailing.

Their travel insurance policies are designed to provide maximum protection for your dive trip, whether going on a liveaboard expedition or just taking a day trip to the local dive spot.

TravelInsurance.com also offers 24/7 assistance, so you can always get help when needed. With TravelInsurance.com, you can ensure you’re getting the best possible coverage.

Like what you are hearing? Read our full TravelInsurance.com review for more information on how you can use this to your travel insurance planning advantage.

  • Top-rated businesses provide comprehensive coverage options.
  • Effortless comparison of pricing and benefits
  • 75,000+ happy customers
  • 100% safe and secure checkout
  • Instant confirmation of coverage via email

5. Liaison Travel Medical Insurance

Seven Corners Logo - Liaison Travel Medical Insurance

Liaison Travel Medical Plan comes with several medical benefits and has an extensive international network of providers with 24/7 travel assistance. This plan is available for all residents of the US who live in New York.

If you want to buy the plan for kids, they must be at least 14 days old. The coverage length will vary from 5 days to 180 days. This is not pure scuba diving insurance but travel insurance covering you for sports and adventure activities. You must be traveling out of the US for this plan, and the coverage will begin at the point of departure on the scheduled departure date.

You can also extend the coverage to a total of 180 days. It is important to note that the insurance will not cover trips to Cuba, Antarctica, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It also comes with certain restrictions when engaging in water sports.

If you are participating in hang gliding, skydiving, scuba diving, or bungee cord diving, and the depth is more than 40 meters or if you are not certified to dive, the insurance cover will not apply.

Again, coverage will not be provided if the divemaster is absent during the dive or deep-sea diving.

See Related: Seven Corners Travel Insurance Review

6. Roam Right Travel Insurance

Roam Right Travel Insurance Logo

Roam Right Travel Insurance offers scuba diving insurance that will cover various losses. It would be best to clarify the depths into which you want to dive and mention whether you are certified.

Some benefits of scuba diving insurance include medical expenses, evacuation, hyperbaric chamber treatments, and repatriation.

If non-divers accompany you, they will be better suited for the less adventurous sports coverage plans. To buy scuba diving insurance, you must ensure that the dive involves an underwater breathing apparatus, or the diver must be NAUI or PADI certified.

You cannot get a cover if you are not certified. Additionally, the dive must be above 130 feet. Those keen on diving beyond 130 feet may want to buy a Hazardous Sports Upgrade, available with the Pro and Pro Plus plans.

The plan provides insurance coverage in all of the following categories, including trip cancellation, emergency accident or dental expense, trip interruption, security and medical evacuation, coverage for baggage and personal belongings, accidental death or disability, sports activities like scuba and parachuting, trip cancellation for work, flight insurance, and collision damage waiver.

7. Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz Travel Insurance Logo

Allianz Travel Insurance is rated highly for customer service and is ideal for those above 70. This insurance company is one of the world’s largest and most reputable insurance providers in the market.

Not many insurance companies cover individuals above 70, but Allianz is worth a look. They cover snorkeling and scuba diving, but it should not be done in a way that would make it very high risk or extreme like scuba diving below 60 feet or without a divemaster.

They have three travel and medical benefits plans for single vacations – OneTrip Basic, OneTrip Prime, and OneTrip Premier. The plans cover safe underwater activities, dental expenses, emergency medical expenses, baggage issues, trip delays, etc.

Allianz has no age limit for individuals, but all the products are unavailable to individuals outside of the US. You can easily get a quote by providing your travel date, age, destination, cost of the trip, and state of residence.

See Related: Best Health Insurance for Travel Nurses

8. Dive Assure

Dive Assure Logo

Dive Assure offers basic travel insurance and diving insurance. It primarily deals with dive accident insurance and offers travel insurance as another product. If you think that scuba diving is covered by travel insurance, then Dive Assure is your answer.

It offers direct payment at the treatment facility and access to expert physicians 24/7 through its hotline. There is a range of packages for you to choose from; some come with unique perks like coverage for diving days lost because of sickness.

Most importantly, Dive Assure is an annual insurance product and offers one-trip insurance. It is the only dive insurance provider that offers coverage for diving days lost because of illness or bad weather. No depth limits exist, and you can combine travel and diving insurance.

Two package options are available for you – Gold Scuba Insurance and Platinum Scuba Insurance. None of the packages have any limits about depth or gas. Hence, the insurance will apply regardless, which is a massive advantage. 

There is a slight difference between the packages. Platinum is a more expensive option but offers higher financial coverage in case of lost gear and emergency expenses.

However, it does not offer a short-term cover. In contrast, the gold package offers short-term coverage in addition to emergency medical expenses, loss of your diving equipment, accidental death and disability, flight or accommodation expenses due to diving accidents, and repatriation of remains.

The single trip insurance is available in three variants- standard, deluxe, and elite. It also has a high maximum payout for specific expenses like evaluation and emergency medical costs compared to the platinum and gold options.

Multi-trip insurance is only available as a deluxe tier. The price will vary according to medical conditions, age, and country of origin. 

9. Dan Divers Insurance 

Dan Divers Insurance Logo

Divers Alert Network is one of the largest associations offering scuba diving insurance, ideal for professional and recreational divers. DAN is very popular across the globe and has more than three decades of experience in the industry.

It is endorsed by PADI and is the first choice of divers. You can enjoy ample diving resources as well as educational opportunities. It is well known for its 24/7 Emergency hotline, which is always available to advise and help scuba divers when in need. 

They offer a range of non-emergency resources like the DAN Information line, online seminars, video lectures, articles, medical FAQs, and more. The resources offered by DAN can beat any other insurance provider in the industry.

If you want to use their insurance program, you need to be a member of the insurance company at a charge. However, this membership brings other benefits like WorldCue Planner and TravelAssist. 

Master is the basic plan that starts at $42, and it offers accident medical expense coverage, accidental death in case of a diving accident, permanent disability for covered diving accidents, and extra accommodation, transportation, and lost diving equipment cover.

The preferred plan for $77 has all these and a $10,000 cover for non-dive accidents outside the home country. The Guardian plan is an all-inclusive plan for $117 that covers specific water sports accidents, death and disability, search and rescue, lost diving equipment, and extra transportation and accommodation. 

With DAN, you do not get additional coverage of other adventure activities or coverage on days lost due to illness or bad weather.

The preferred guardian plan offers a high coverage of your equipment. Remember that to buy scuba insurance from DAN, you must also purchase a membership for $35 annually. This will add up to the total cost of insurance. 

It is also possible to get insurance coverage on the individual pieces of your gear with DAN insurance. It will provide a higher financial payment in case of losing the gear. Even while traveling, you can enhance the insurance coverage or add extras by making an international fund transfer. 

Comparison Table

Company NameMedical CoverageEquipment InsuranceAdditional Benefits24/7 Assistance
Divers Alert Network (DAN)Emergency evacuation, hyperbaric treatments, hospitalizationAvailable as an optional add-onCoverage for lost diving days due to illness or bad weatherYes
World NomadsEmergency evacuation, medical expenses, hospitalizationCovered under standard policyCoverage for trip cancellation and interruptionYes
DiveAssureEmergency evacuation, hyperbaric treatments, hospitalizationAvailable as an optional add-onCoverage for lost diving days and travel delaysYes
PADI Travel InsuranceEmergency evacuation, medical expenses, hospitalizationAvailable as an optional add-onCoverage for trip cancellation and interruptionYes
Dive Master InsuranceEmergency evacuation, hyperbaric treatments, hospitalizationAvailable as an optional add-onCoverage for lost diving days and travel delaysYes

What is scuba travel insurance?

Scuba travel insurance will keep you safe against the unpredictable expenses of a scuba diving accident. You never know what may happen after you dive, and accidents do not come after you are informed.

If anything happens to you while you are diving, scuba travel insurance will save you from the high out-of-pocket expenses.

It will cover the cost of medical treatment, emergency evacuation, and the required hyperbaric therapy. Some policies also cover lost diving days, dive gear, and more.

Scuba diving

Do you need scuba travel insurance?

Are you thinking, does travel insurance cover scuba? Many believe that normal insurance is enough, but it does not cover scuba diving.

Even if it is, the coverage will be fundamental and insufficient to cover you in a diving emergency fully.

Healthcare costs are rising, and if you do not have adequate coverage, it could land you in trouble. Any medical emergency in diving will require special care, and professional experts in the field must treat it.

The companies that issue dive insurance provide support 24/7 from qualified physicians. Many travel or health insurance companies may be unable to offer the same coverage or expertise needed in diving emergencies. 

Fortunately, a few insurance companies offer great coverage and support for diving. You must understand that the specific requirements for diving will only be met by scuba travel insurance. However, the coverage will vary depending on your plan type.

Before jetting off to a dive destination, it is important to buy scuba travel insurance. When you are insured, you can fully enjoy the dive, knowing that you are covered in case of an accident.  

Picking the right scuba diving insurance plan 

Choosing the right scuba travel insurance policy may not be the most exciting part of the dive trip, but it is one of the most important. Let’s look at the criteria you must consider when choosing the best travel insurance for scuba diving. 

1. Coverage 

You will see a lot of variations in what is covered and what is not, and to what extent. You must check whether the coverage is enough for the most expensive treatments.

Some policies are unlimited, but many others come with upper financial limits.

Divers underwater

You need to be careful when choosing the coverage on a policy and ensure that it is high or unlimited. Remember to check whether the dive insurance covers additional travel or accommodation you may need due to an accident. 

You will need insurance if you plan to engage in other adventure activities.

2. Gas or depth limits

Remember to double-check that the diving you want is covered in the policy. Many policies only cover you when diving into the air to a depth of 30 meters, but what if you want to explore deeper than 30 meters?

In this case, you will need travel insurance for scuba diving 40 metes. Remember that the insurance will only cover the diving activities in which you are trained.

If you exceed the certification limits or do not follow safety standards, the policy may not cover you in an emergency. It is important to check the inclusions and exclusions thoroughly.

See Related: Important Pros and Cons of Travel Insurance

3. Direct payment or reimbursement

There are two options available with all policies. You can either opt for direct payment or choose reimbursement.

girl in scuba gear

Direct payment is better as you will receive the treatment immediately and not worry about finding the money to pay for it. You can also avoid the hassles of making claims and waiting for reimbursement.

4. Added Travel Insurance Coverage

Dive insurance includes other coverage beyond your scuba adventures, like trip interruption insurance, lost luggage, and emergency evacuation.

Most companies offer an option to add travel insurance to the package. With this, you will also be covered for other non-diving emergencies on the trip.

Another extra is trip cancellation, where you will be reimbursed for unforeseen factors that impact your diving trip. Further, the equipment coverage is excellent if you have your scuba gear. The equipment is very expensive, and if it is lost or stolen, you will want them to be well-insured.

Other extras include professional liability insurance, cover for unforeseen scenarios, days lost because of weather, transporting for family members, etc. Consider all the extras carefully before making a decision.

These top scuba insurance providers listed here are some of the best in the industry, and they offer extensive coverage. You can compare all three and then decide. If you want to engage in other adventures, World Nomads offers the best option, and if you are looking for educational resources and insurance coverage, opt for DAN.

If you are unsure of the number of diving days due to the weather, you must choose Dive Assure to enjoy a cover for lost days. Remember, each insurance provider has unique features that help you enjoy high coverage and avoid huge medical expenses.

So, be careful about the insurance plan you choose and take your time to compare all the options, collect quotes from different companies, and then make a final call.

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