Travel insurance for water sports and activities
What to know when getting your adrenaline rush in and around the water
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With the Earth covered in so much water across oceans, lakes and rivers there’s plenty of opportunity to have some serious adventures on your travel. Whether you’re planning on surfing in Bali, rafting on the Colorado River or sailing the Mediterranean, World Nomads travel insurance can help you and your family if the unexpected happens.
- What does World Nomads travel insurance cover?
- Why should I consider travel insurance when doing a water sports activity?
- What’s covered by travel insurance for water activities and sports?
- What's not covered
- Key tips for water activities and sports
What does World Nomads travel insurance cover?
World Nomads may offer cover for the following (up to the policy limits):
- Emergency medical and evacuation coverage – if you or a member of your family suffers an injury or accident whilst participating in a covered water sports activity.
- Baggage and high value items cover – if your baggage or items are stolen, lost or damaged you may be covered, including if your bags are delayed.
- Cover for Coronavirus-related events – our policies offer medical coverage if you or your family are diagnosed with Coronavirus. You may also be covered for Coronavirus-related travel costs such as quarantine and trip cancellation, depending on which policy you choose.
- Coverage for extended stays – your plan can be extended while still travelling for up to 12 months from your departure date (terms and conditions apply).
Why should I consider travel insurance when doing a water sports activity?
Before you head off on your adventure it might be worth considering how travel insurance can ensure that your holiday dreams don’t turn into a nightmare.
Our policies can help with medical costs and evacuation if you suffer an injury while sailing the Galapagos Islands and need to seek medical treatment. Having travel insurance can even help if your diving trip to the Great Blue Hole in Belize by is cancelled by the tour provider due to an insured event and you’re left out of pocket.
Our policies cover a wide range of water sports activities, so don’t leave your aquatic adventure up to chance.
Travel insurance tip: if you’ve already arrived at your overseas holiday destination and forgot to buy travel insurance before leaving New Zealand, don’t panic. You can visit the World Nomads website at any time of the day or night to purchase a policy.
What's covered by travel insurance for water activities and sports?
We want you to have the best experience on your travels, so we’ve designed our plans to cover the water sports that our nomads love the most including:
- Dragon boating
- Jet Skiing
- Wakeboarding
- Kiteboarding
- Windsurfing
- Boating (inland and coastal waters)
- Parasailing
- Kayaking
- Snorkelling
- Stand-up paddleboarding.
We can even offer cover for experiences that really push the limits including:
- Outdoor endurance, multi-sport and triathlon events (less than ultra-distance)
- Shark cage diving
- Cavern diving (qualified to 40 metres).
World Nomads offers two plans – Standard and Explorer. Each policy provides different levels of coverage depending on what you need:
- The Standard Plan covers a range of benefits and certain adventure activities and has lower coverage limits.
- The Explorer Plan covers all the benefits of the Standard plan, with larger coverage limits, more benefits and covers more sports and activities.
- Both the Standard and Explorer plans offer cover for nominated low-risk water sports under “Level 1” cover. If you plan to participate in higher-risk water sports, as listed in section 8 of the Policy Document, you may need to upgrade your Standard or Explorer plan to “level 2” or “level 3” cover depending on which water sports activities you plan on participating in.
Depending on the level of cover you choose, our policies may cover you for the following when participating in water sports activities:
- Medical emergency: if you suffer an accident on injury whilst participating in a water sports activity, you may be covered for medical expenses incurred including evacuation and even repatriation if you need to return home.
- Trip cancellation: if any part your trip is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances you may be covered for expenses incurred as a result of the cancellation.
- Cover for stolen baggage and gear: if your gear is lost, stolen or damaged on your trip you may be able to claim to have your gear replaced or repaired.
- Natural disaster: If a natural disaster impacts your planned water sports adventure our policies may cover you if you need to cancel or interrupt your travel plans.
What's not covered?
While there are several circumstances we can offer coverage for, there are also those we just won’t cover. These include, but are not limited to:
- Damage to any sporting equipment while in use, sporting equipment over 3 years old or damage to or theft of any water sports equipment that are left unsupervised in a public place.
- If you travel against medical advice or neglect to adhere to New Zealand Government ‘Do Not Travel’ warnings issued prior to departure. Find out more at Safe Travel NZ.
- A loss arising from participating in or training for a competition or race where you receive a financial reward (i.e., an appearance fee, a wage or salary).
- Any adventure activities or sports that aren’t covered by our policies.
- Any pre-existing medical conditions.
- Any costs related to illegal activities or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Tips for your water activity and sports sports trip
- Keep your receipts and paperwork:any claim you make will need supporting documentation such as receipts of your purchases. Keep these with you in printed or digital form if you intend to make a claim.
- It pays to be prepared:check the weather, check your equipment, and check the credentials of your instructors and guides – if any seem unreliable then reconsider if it’s a smart move to go.
- Don’t get in over your head:be responsible when choosing a water sports activity. Does it suit your experience level? Are you using an accredited tour operator? Make sure to wear appropriate safety gear.
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Document in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
The information provided is of a general nature and is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form and should not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining professional advice that is specific to your circumstances. You should seek advice from a financial advice provider if you would like further information about whether a particular product is appropriate for you and your circumstances.
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24/7 emergency assistance
If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
From New Zealand & Overseas:
+61 2 8263 0470 or
+61 2 8292 1470
(reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)
Within Australia (Free call): 1800 611 210
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Been made redundant?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Overseas
Take the pain out of medical costs.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transport
We'll get you to hospital in a flash
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Luggage lost?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Tech trashed?
Help starts here.
- Overseas Medical Expenses
- Emergency dental treatment
- 24 hour assistance
- Emergency medical transport & repatriation
- Cancellation costs
- Trip interruption costs
- Compassionate emergency visit home
- Resumption of trip
- Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
- Baggage delay over 12 hours
- Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
- Personal liability
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.