Scuba Diving Travel Insurance

Planning on scuba diving during your next trip? Scuba diving is one of the most popular sports to take part in whist on holiday. In fact, around 2 million[1] of us in the UK dive every year!

Here at DOGTAG, we want to make sure you understand what cover is available to you before you dive in to the ocean!

To make sure you have suitable cover in place when getting a quote with DOGTAG, simply select ‘scuba diving’ as an activity that you’ll be taking part in during your adventures and then we’ll show you the sports level you need.

Some of the cover available to you:

At DOGTAG, all of our single and annual multi-trip policies include cover for events that may happen during any holiday, for example, lost or damaged luggage, emergency medical costs and trip cancellation. More specifically the policies we offer include:

  • 24/7 emergency medical assistance team
  • Up to £10 million medical expenses, including bringing you home if it is medically necessary
  • Cancellation cover
  • Cover for your personal belongings

Along with these base cover benefits, if you opt to add the scuba diving extension, during the quote process, you will then make sure you are covered for any risks and events that may occur during your scuba diving trip. For example, protection for lost, damaged or stolen scuba equipment, emergency medical assistance relating to diving (if medically necessary) and trip delay or cancellation preventing you from diving e.g. adverse weather conditions.

What does the scuba diving extension specifically include:

As well as offering cover for all standard elements that you’d expect to find in a travel insurance policy including emergency medical expenses, baggage cover and cancellation cover. The scuba travel insurance policy extension includes an array of cover that is beneficial to a scuba diving holiday. The policy add on includes:

  • Emergency medical repatriation – if the qualified diver is taken ill or injured
  • Trip disruption if you are unable to scuba dive as planned due to adverse weather conditions
  • If your equipment is lost, damaged or stolen
  • If you need to hire equipment after being lost, damaged or stolen

As well as all these benefits covered in the scuba diving extension, you will also have included the base level of cover which includes things such as cancellation cover and up to £10 million medical expenses, including bringing you home if it is medically necessary.

What won’t a scuba diving travel insurance extension cover me for?

Although scuba diving travel insurance will cover you for many things including trip delays, emergency medical expenses and lost, damaged or stolen equipment it won’t however, cover you for the following:

  • If you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the time of an incident that later led to a claim
  • If you travelled against medical advice
  • If you are found not to have disclosed your fully medical history. For example, all medication and medical conditions.
  • For more information on what circumstances are and are not covered under a DOGTAG travel insurance policy, click here.

How much does scuba diving travel insurance cost?

The cost of a travel insurance policy will vary depending on the level of cover you have selected, as well as the activities selected. Other factors that may affect the cost include the length of the trip, any medical conditions you may have and where in the world you plan on travelling to.

It is important for you to get the correct travel insurance during a scuba diving holiday as it will most likely include additional benefits specific to scuba diving. For example, this includes cover for lost, damaged or stolen equipment and emergency medical costs, should you become injured or ill during the trip, to name a few policy benefits.

To make sure you have cover in place for a scuba diving adventure, simply select ‘scuba diving’ as the activity that you plan on taking in part in during the quote process and add on the scuba diving extension. You’ll then need to select the depths that you plan on diving to and whether this will be assisted or not by a PADI diver. Of course, if diving solo, you will need to be fully qualified. Where possible, we’ll then present you with the most suitable DOGTAG sporting level for your trip.

Why do I need specific scuba diving travel insurance?

If you are planning on scuba diving while on holiday, you will need to have travel insurance in place to protect you from the many factors that could arise during a scuba diving adventure. By listing scuba diving as an activity on your travel insurance policy and adding the scuba diving extension itwill ensure that you have the correct cover for your specific needs, and cover you for this sporting activity.

Typically, travel insurance with scuba diving protection offers cover for trip cancellation (due to reasons listed in your policy wordings), lost, damaged or stolen equipment, as well as cover if you are unable to scuba dive e.g. due to adverse weather conditions. Along with this, you, of course, have the benefits of a standard travel insurance policy that covers you for things including baggage cover, cancellation cover and emergency medical expenses.

When getting a quote with us at DOGTAG, you will need to select the type of scuba diving you will be doing from up to 30 metres or up to 50 metres. Whether it’s scuba diving solo, scuba diving up to 30 metres with an instructor, or scuba diving up to 50 metres with an instructor, our system will then automatically offer you a suitable sporting level of cover based on the information you provide from Sport to Extreme+. Make sure you check the cover meets your needs!

Can I buy scuba diving travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?

In most cases, you can! Here at DOGTAG, we don’t believe that a medical condition should prevent you from getting cover for your scuba diving holiday.

However, it is extremely important that you let us know of any existing medical conditions you have and any medication that you take during the quote process. It benefits you to let us know of any medication you take and any medical conditions you may have, as should something happen during your trip related to an existing medical condition, and you later need to make a claim, it ensures that cover is in place.

When you have let us know of any medical conditions, we will then ask you a few questions in order for us to understand your overall health, and if possible, offer you the correct cover. If you would rather discuss over the phone then give our customer service team a call.

It’s super important to let us know about any medical conditions you have, as failure to do so may lead to a claim being denied, meaning you’re left with the bill.

What destinations does scuba diving travel insurance cover?

At DOGTAG, our travel insurance policies offer cover for most destinations across the world! All you need to do is select the location you wish to travel to and our quote journey will automatically select the destination group which that country falls under.

If you plan on visiting more than one destination (and need an annual multi trip policy) simply click here to check which geographical zone your planned destinations fall into!

Please note, there may be additional cost if your chosen destinations fall into a different geographical zones, but don’t worry, we’ll work that out for you!

When should I buy scuba diving travel insurance?

It is best to buy travel insurance for a scuba diving adventure as soon as you book your holiday! By doing this, if anything were to happen before your trip which meant that you needed to cancel your holiday, you would be covered, as long as the reason is covered in your policy – you can check the policy wording here. The scuba diving extension will cover for any delays or disruptions that effect being able to go scuba diving such as adverse weather conditions.

It’s important to know that you aren’t covered for any cancellation reasons until you have purchased a travel insurance policy and have cover in place, which is why it benefits you to cover your trip as soon as you’ve booked your holiday.

You will be covered for cancellation from the date of purchase for single trip policies, and the start date of the policy for annual multi trip policies.

What level of cover do I need for scuba diving travel insurance?

Scuba diving comes under a few different sport levels, depending on the specific factors involved in the activity, such as the depth of which you will be diving, whether you are diving accompanied by a PADI diver, or if you’re diving alone (as long as you’re fully qualified to do so).

Once you have let us know these details during the quote process, we will show you the sporting level most suitable to your travel needs. For example, this may be either Sport, Extreme or Extreme + cover, depending on your answers. You will then be able to decide whether you need base, pro or max cover, depending on how much cancellation cover you need.

Please note, you will also be covered for any sports within the same level of cover and below! To see other sports and activities we cover click here.

Can I buy an annual multi trip for scuba diving travel insurance?

You can certainly buy an annual multi trip travel insurance that covers you for scuba diving! An annual multi trip policy provides better value for money if you plan to travel more than once within 12 months. It also saves you from having to get a new quote and travel insurance policy before each trip over the year.

If you need to change or amend your policy, the customer service team are here to help! You can contact them via our Live Chat by clicking here (open 9am -6pm on Monday to Friday), or by using our contact us page.

Can I go on a scuba diving trip without scuba diving travel insurance?

It is essential to get travel insurance that covers any activities that you plan on taking part in during a holiday, including scuba diving. All sports, including scuba diving, naturally come with an element of risk that could require emergency medical care and assistance in extreme cases. Medical care abroad can be very expensive so it is important to have suitable travel insurance in place, otherwise you could be left having to pay out of your own pocket.

Scuba diving travel insurance at DOGTAG offers cover in the event that your equipment becomes lost, damaged or stolen, as well as many other benefits for a scuba diving holiday. As well as this, you will of course also benefit from the standard protection offered in most travel insurance policies, including baggage cover, trip cancellation and emergency medical costs, as an example.

  • Coronavirus cover includes cover if you need to cancel within 14 days of your trip or curtail your trip early as a result of a positive COVID test, and cover for medical expenses related to a coronavirus diagnosis during your trip. Any further cover can be purchased within the optional COVID-19 Extension. More information can be found here.

[1] Is diving safe – press information (no date) British Sub-Aqua Club. Available at: https://www.bsac.com/safety/is-diving-safe-press-information/#:~:text=Lots%20of%20people%20scuba%20dive,the%20nature%20of%20the%20environment. (Accessed: 13 February 2024).