Am I covered by travel insurance if I'm scuba diving?

The good news is that our policies can cover many types of scuba diving but there are terms and conditions that you should be aware of.

 Scuba Diving Certification Conditions of Cover
    Not a Qualified Dive    Cover to scuba with a professional, qualified and licensed guide or operator on a ‘discover diving’ tour
    Qualified Diver    You can dive to the depth that your license allows up to a maximum depth of 40 metres
    Shark Cage diving    
  • Qualified diver: yes, to a maximum depth of 30 metres
  • Not a qualified diver: yes, at surface only
    Cave diving    Not covered
    Cavern diving    Qualified divers to a maximum depth of 40 metres
    Free Diving    Not Covered
    Commercial Diving    Not Covered

Note: the types of scuba diving listed above may require plan upgrades and an additional premium, so be sure to check the PDS and if you aren’t sure, you can contact us.

Getting covered

If you plan to go scuba diving at least once during your trip then be sure to select the type of scuba diving you'll be doing, and the depth e.g 'Scuba diving to 30 metres', when you purchase your policy.

If you don’t do this, you may not be covered, and you can’t add activities after you’ve purchased your policy. So, if there’s a chance you will go exploring underwater, you must add it at policy purchase to be covered.

Choosing the right policy for you

We offer two plans – Standard and Explorer – each of which offers different levels of coverage for all types of water sports. It is up to you to choose what plan has the right level of coverage to meet your travel needs and that matches your specific scuba diving plans.

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With World Nomads you can get an instant quote anytime, anywhere, before you leave home or while you’re on the road.

What am I covered for when going scuba diving?

Our policies can assist you if you become seriously injured or suddenly ill while diving and need urgent medical assistance. This includes coverage, up to policy limits, for:

  • Emergency medical expenses: for treatment at the hospital or local medical centre, including decompression treatment, if agreed as medically necessary by your treating doctor and our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team.
  • Evacuation: if it’s urgent and the treating doctor and our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team decide it is medically necessary (by the most appropriate means whether by road, sea or air when necessary and available).
  • Repatriation: We may provide you with a ride back home, as agreed by the treating doctor and our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team, if you’re seriously injured or ill and unable to continue your trip.

What happens if I need medical assistance?

If you’re in need of a medical evacuation, repatriation or if you’re admitted to a hospital, you or someone with you must contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance team immediately. Our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team can help with:

  • Locating the nearest medical facilities
  • Arranging medical transport
  • Arranging medical evacuation, if required
  • Approving and setting up payments to medical facilities
  • Keep you connected with your people back home

Who pays for medical treatment?

If you are wondering who pays for medical treatment (and by this we mean either you pay upfront and claim later, or we pay upfront) it depends on what’s happened to you and the necessary treatment required.

Is my gear covered?

Our policies may also provide cover, up to policy limits, for baggage and personal effects, including:

  • the theft or damage of sporting equipment (except while it’s being used or left unattended)
  • damage to sporting equipment by a common carrier. So, if your fins, mask or scuba equipment gets damaged or stolen while in transit with a common carrier, you can make a claim.
  • High-value items such as sporting equipment, camera and tech (such as underwater cameras) and other personal items, as long as they are added to the policy at the time of purchase.

Note: be aware that there is an AUD$100 policy excess per claimable event for medical and baggage claims.

What’s not covered

While we can offer coverage for a lot of scuba diving events, there are also things we just won’t cover. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Any dive which takes you below your current qualification limits or any dive over 40 meters under any circumstances
  • Any unaccompanied dive or any dive for gain or reward
  • Going against local authority warnings or entering closed or restricted areas or places or situations known to be unsafe or dangerous
  • Pre-existing medical conditions
  • Sporting equipment that is over three years old
  • Any on-going medical expenses once you return to Australia
  • Any other reason listed under the General Exclusions in your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Travel insurance is not designed to cover everything, so take the time to read the full description of cover in the PDS for the full details on what’s not covered as well as the terms, conditions, limitation, and exclusions. If you are unsure of anything, please contact us for help.


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We’re here to help if you have a question about travel insurance. We’re available:

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