Breathe easy with our scuba diving travel insurance. We provide cover for pre-existing medical conditions, trip cancellations and repatriation, for all ages.
Travel Insurance Expert and Head of Communications
Last updatedDecember 5 2025
16 min read
Love to explore on holiday? Why stick to dry land? Our scuba diving travel insurance covers your subaquatic adventures. Stick to the shallows or dare to go deeper. We can cover dives of up to 50m if you’re qualified. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, we have flexible policies to suit your needs. Take us with you and do more on your trip
What is scuba diving travel insurance and do you need it?
From coral reefs to shipwrecks, scuba diving lets you see the world’s most stunning oceans. But having the right travel insurance is as essential as your oxygen tank. No matter how experienced you are, accidents can happen at sea.
The bends. Damaged eardrums. The open water can have its risks. And that’s where scuba diving travel insurance comes in.
The best travel insurance for scuba diving covers:
Emergency medical costs: Diving in Hawaii? Sounds ideal. But an unexpected trip to a US emergency room could cost you thousands. Think it won’t happen to you? 10% to 30% of all divers get middle ear barotrauma – eardrum damage caused by changes in air pressure. Standard travel insurance does not cover you for dives deeper than 30 metres. Adding scuba diving travel insurance to your policy ensures you’re not left in pain – and out of pocket.
Repatriation cover: Accidents can happen with any activity. But scuba diving has an inherently high risk of serious injury. One study found that the rate of major scuba diving mishaps was 11.2 per 100 dives. The most common place for an air ambulance call-out following a scuba diving injury was the Caribbean. Typical private medical repatriation costs to the UK are estimated at £50,000. If you need to be flown home after a diving accident, scuba travel insurance can cover the cost.
Covers cancellations: From the Maldives to Malaysia, the best dive spots often make for the most expensive holidays. Scuba diving insurance with cancellation cover can help if you have to cancel your trip.
Protects your belongings: A lost or stolen bag can put a dampener on any holiday. But what if the bag contains your favourite mask? At InsureandGo, we want you to enjoy your holiday, not worry about unexpected expenses. Our travel insurance can cover your belongings for loss, theft or damage. Want to bring something particularly expensive? Take a look at our additional valuables cover.
‘Scuba diving travel insurance’ is a general term. It applies to cover included within our standard policies and hazardous activity add-on. We don’t offer specialist cover for this specific activity.
Make sure the policy you’ve chosen covers your destination. It also needs to cover all the activities you have planned. Our policy wording provides full terms and conditions of what is and isn’t included.
You’ll also need to tell us about your pre-existing medical conditions. We can’t cover any costs related to medical issues that aren’t declared. If your medical history isn’t accurate, you may have to pay for unexpected medical costs.
What types of scuba diving are covered?
Deep diving. Shark cage diving. When it comes to ocean exploration, there are so many activities to try. But if you’re planning on swimming with the fishes during your trip, you’ll want to know that you’re covered.
Here’s a quick rundown of some popular holiday diving activities. We’ll tell you what scuba travel insurance you’ll need, so you can breathe easy underwater.
Shallow water diving: See all the colours of the reef. Our standard travel insurance policies cover scuba dives of up to 30 metres at no extra charge. If you’re a beginner, we can only cover you if you’re supervised by a qualified diving instructor. More experienced divers who hold a qualification can dive up to 30m unsupervised. Qualifications we recognise include a British Sub Aqua Club certificate (BSAC) or equivalent.
Deep diving: Explore what lies beneath. If you want to dive deeper than 30 metres, you’ll need to be qualified by BSAC or an equivalent. You’ll also need to add on our hazardous activity cover. It covers qualified divers to explore up to a maximum depth of 40m and 50m.
BOSS (breathing observation submersible scooter): How does riding your own underwater scooter sound? With a transparent helmet attached to the scooter, it forms an air bubble that lets you breathe underwater. Our standard travel insurance policies cover BOSS dives at no extra charge.
Shark cage diving: Get up close to one of nature’s greatest predators. Shark diving sees you submerged in a metal cage as sharks glide around you. To experience it for yourself, add hazardous activity to our standard travel insurance policies.
Want to spend your entire trip underwater? Our scuba diving travel insurance doesn’t provide cover if scuba diving is the main purpose of your trip.
For all scuba diving activities, you must use the proper equipment and follow BSAC codes of good practice. We can’t cover diving for hire or reward. We also can’t cover you if you are diving within 24 hours of flying, or flying within 24 hours of diving.
What else does InsureandGo’s scuba diving travel insurance cover?
Planning on diving deeper than 30m? Qualified divers can add scuba diving travel insurance to cover their trip. It’s also called hazardous activity travel insurance. You can add it to any of our travel insurance policies. This will also cover you for skydiving, bungee jumping and a whole host of other adventurous activities.
What’s covered?
Your travel insurance policy with scuba diving cover includes:
We will consider all pre-existing medical conditions. Find out more about medical travel insurance. The excess and amount of cover available varies. It depends on the level of travel insurance for scuba diving you buy. Make sure you check the policy wording to see the full terms and conditions.
Scuba diving below 30m
Qualified divers are covered for scuba diving to a maximum depth of 50m.
Trip length and purpose
Planning a few scuba dives as a fun holiday activity? Our scuba diving insurance will cover you for up to a maximum of 15 days
What’s not covered?
Each provider will have different things it can or cannot include in a policy. However, there are some situations no travel insurance will cover. For example:
You cannot cover events or reasons to claim which took place before you booked the trip or purchased insurance. Insurance exists to cover unexpected events outside the insured’s control
Claims which are less than the excess for that section of cover. For example, you cannot claim a £40 lost item if your baggage excess is £60
All of our travel insurance policies include cover for cancellation of your trip. But there may be some exclusions. For example, you won’t be covered to cancel if you simply decide not to go
To check the policy exclusions and what is and isn’t included, take a look at our policy wording. for up to a maximum of 15 days.
Scuba diving below 30m
Cover will only apply if you hold a BSAC or equivalent certificate for the dive you’re doing. Or if you are under the direct supervision of a qualified instructor. You must dive with proper equipment or contrary to BSAC of good practice. We cannot cover diving for hire or reward. We cannot cover diving within 24 hours of flying or flying within 24 hours of diving.
Trip length and purpose
We cannot cover you if scuba diving is the main purpose of your trip.
The best scuba diving travel insurance for your trip
Want to dive into adventure? Our flexible policies can take you from Costa Rica to Koh Tao. Not sure what you need? We have a few suggestions.
Turtle spotting in Thailand? Koh Tao and the Similan Islands are a great place to see them. Just add scuba diving touring travel insurance to our Thailand policies.
Just a beginner? The Red Sea is a great place to start your aquatic adventures. Our Egypt policies cover you for dives of less than 30m as standard.
Want more adventure? Take off your mask and go hiking or golfing. And with scuba diving trip travel insurance, you’ll be covered for more extreme sports.
Going as a group? Scuba diving’s fun with friends. Add scuba diving insurance to our group travel policies. Then head for an underwater adventure you’ll talk about forever.
Taking expensive gear? Your mask and wetsuit may be costly to replace. Adding valuables cover to your scuba diving travel insurance covers them for loss.
Scuba diving insurance for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions
We want everyone to get the most out of their holiday. And that includes people with pre-existing medical conditions. Travel insurance with scuba diving cover comes with no upper age limit. We’ll consider cover for any medical conditions that are declared to us.
Before buying your policy, you must let us know about any pre-existing conditions you have. Our online medical screening process is easy. If you’d rather talk to someone instead, please get in touch with us.
We consider something to be a pre-existing condition if you have:
Taken any prescribed medication or received medical treatment within the last 2 years
Been registered in or been an outpatient at a hospital, clinic or GP surgery in the last 2 years
Been advised of a terminal illness
Examples of medical conditions we can cover include:
Please be aware that some conditions may prevent you from diving safely. As such, they may not be covered while you’re taking part in scuba diving.
According to the BSAC, people with diabetes, epilepsy, high blood pressure, heart disease,COPD or asthma may not be considered medically fit enough to dive. Reputable dive organisations take safety seriously. You will have to sign a medical waiver before you dive.
How to book our scuba trip insurance
It’s quick and easy to get travel insurance with scuba diving cover.
1.Tell us about your holiday
Let us know about the scuba diving you have planned. Tell us who you want to cover, and when you want the policy to start. We will also ask you about any pre-existing medical conditions.
You can do this online now or by calling our team:
Once we have all the details we need, we will send you your quote. At this stage, you can buy your policy or save the quote for later.
Our experts say…
“Scuba diving offers a unique adventure. But while it can be thrilling, it comes with risks. Dealing with complicated equipment underwater can lead to accidents and injury. Repatriation from far-flung diving locations can be costly. Scuba diving travel insurance ensures you’re fully protected. But it can also cover you for cancellation should an unforeseen event disrupt your trip.”
Yes, it does, but it depends on a number of factors:
The depth you’re diving to: All our travel insurance policies cover scuba diving to a depth of 30 metres. Want to go deeper? You’ll need additional extreme sports insurance to be fully covered. You can add it to any of our policies. You must also be fully qualified.
Your level of experience: Complete beginner? We can only provide insurance if you’re under the direct supervision of a qualified diving instructor. The qualifications we recognise include a British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) certificate or equivalent qualification of proficiency. These are also the qualifications we require for more experienced divers to go scuba diving unsupervised.
Your scuba diving activities: Our standard travel insurance policies also cover snorkelling and BOSS diving at no extra charge. However, if you are planning to go shark cage diving or breathing observation bubble diving, you’ll need extreme sports insurance. We cannot cover you if you’re diving for hire or reward.
Your safety precautions: You won’t be covered for scuba diving if you dive under the influence of alcohol. You must be diving with proper and correct equipment and according to BSAC codes of good practice. Also, you must never dive and fly within 24 hours of each activity.
Your health: Our policies will only cover you if you’re fit to dive.
Your trip purpose: Travel insurance won’t cover scuba diving if it’s the whole purpose of your trip. For example, you’re on a scuba diving activity holiday.
How much does scuba diving travel insurance cost?
The exact cost of scuba diving travel insurance scuba diving cover varies from person to person. This is because it is based on a wide range of factors, including:
The type of scuba diving you plan to do: Our standard travel insurance policies cover you to scuba dive up to 30m. If you’re planning to dive deeper, you’ll need to take out additional extreme sports insurance.
Your age and overall health: Pre-existing medical conditions may not affect your love of the ocean. But they can impact how much your travel insurance costs.
The level of policy cover you go for: At InsureandGo, we offer four levels of cover. Choose from Budget, Silver, Gold and Black.
Trip duration: The longer you’re travelling, the greater the odds of a claim.
Chosen destination: Planning on scuba in Mexico or the Caribbean? Worldwide policies that include these locations usually cost more due to higher healthcare costs.
Travel insurance with scuba diving cover doesn’t have to be expensive. You may not need additional gadget cover, for example. One annual policy might work out cheaper if you’re planning on scuba diving more than once this year.
Find out how much scuba diving travel insurance will cost for you by getting a quick and easy quote online now.
Is scuba diving insurance mandatory?
Most reputable scuba diving centres insist that every diver has adequate travel insurance. The UK Government recommends that all British tourists have enough insurance for their chosen activities. Remember that if you’re diving deeper than 30m, you’ll need to get our extreme sports insurance.
Will travel insurance cover any depth of scuba diving?
Our standard policies cover scuba diving to a depth of up to 30 metres.
If you would like to dive deeper than 30 metres, you’ll need to be qualified. You’ll also need to add on our extreme sports cover. This will cover you for many other adventurous activities and watersports.
For a full list of activities included, take a look at our policy wording documents.
What scuba diving equipment is covered by travel insurance?
Our scuba diving insurance covers any personal items that are lost, stolen or damaged. The amount covered depends on the level of policy you choose.
Check the maximum single-item limit on your chosen policy. Scuba diving items can be expensive to replace. Scuba diving travel insurance alone may not be enough to cover your kit. Adding valuables cover to your policy will protect your prized possessions.
Does scuba travel insurance cover treatment for decompression sickness?
Yes it does, providing you have the correct level of cover for the scuba diving you’re doing. You’ll also need to stay within the limits of your certification. For full details of what we will and won’t cover, check the wording of your chosen policy.
A common diving injury, decompression illness, can be mild or severe. Symptoms range from numbness to pain and paralysis. It can even be fatal if not treated quickly.
It’s caused when increased pressure makes the body’s tissues absorb more nitrogen from the breathing gas. This excess nitrogen remains dissolved in the tissues without issue while you’re underwater. However, if you ascend too rapidly, nitrogen forms bubbles in the bloodstream.
The severity of health issues depends on the number of bubbles. Following diving regulations can reduce the risk.
Does scuba diving insurance cover other watersports?
Yes, it does. All our travel insurance policies cover scuba diving to a depth of 30m as standard. But they also cover other popular watersports like:
Banana boating
Dragon boating
Jet boating
Jet skiing
Kite surfing
Parasailing (over water)
River tubing
Snorkelling
Surfing
Swimming with dolphins
Wake boarding
Water skiing
Feeling a little more adventurous? Along with qualified scuba dives of over 30m, our extreme sports add-on covers watersports such as:
Our policy wording has a full list of what watersports are included.
Can you get cover for multiple scuba diving trips?
Yes, you can get cover for multiple scuba diving trips. For dives deeper than 30m, just add hazardous activity to any of our policies. If you’re planning on more than one scuba diving adventure this year, buying an annual multi-trip policy could save you time and money.
Who can buy an InsureandGo scuba diving travel insurance policy?
All our scuba diving travel insurance policies are available to UK residents. This means:
Someone who has been living in the UK or the Channel Islands for at least six of the last 12 months
If you’ve got more questions about how our scuba diving travel insurance works, or more general travel insurance queries, have a read through our FAQs.
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Based on 1,692 responses, correct as of 24/07/2025.
