Travel Insurance Expert and Head of Communications
Last updatedDecember 16 2025
15 min read
Looking for water sports insurance? There’s no need to splash out with InsureandGo. Snorkel, paddleboard, sail or swim, because we cover standard water sports for free. Dipping a toe into something more adventurous? Add extreme sports to your policy, and we can cover that, too! With no upper age limit, we cover all destinations. Take us with you and do more on holiday.
What is water sports travel insurance, and do you need it?
A spur-of-the-moment banana boat ride. A pre-planned day in the surf. While some of us like to fly and flop, others opt for more action-packed trips. Our survey found that water sports was the third most popular holiday activity, beaten only by walking and shopping.
But finding a policy to cover your aquatic adventures is as important as packing your swimwear. No matter how good a swimmer you are, being in the water comes with risk.
Accidents can happen with any activity. But a mishap in water comes with a higher risk of serious complications. With the right water sports insurance, you won’t face hefty medical bills if you get injured. It can even help to fly you home in an emergency.
Our travel insurance policies cover standard water sports at no extra cost, from surfing to parasailing. But some water sports, like shark diving or sea canoeing, come with a higher risk. That’s why all our policies let you add extra cover for more extreme water sports.
The best travel insurance for water sports covers:
Repatriation: No one likes to think of the worst happening on holiday. But according to the Royal Lifesaving Society UK, 307 Brits drown each year. This figure doesn’t include those who have drowned overseas. Many more survive drowning events, but are left with severe injuries. Near-drowning can lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress and even brain damage. If you need to be flown home after an accident in the water, water sports travel insurance can cover the cost.
Emergency medical costs: Jet-skiing in Dubai? Seeing the Burj Al Arab from the water is popular. But modern jet-skis can reach speeds in excess of 60mph in a flash. No wonder RoSpa says that jet-skiing is notorious for causing injuries. It found that most accidents occur through collisions or crashing into jetties. If you have a jet-ski accident in the UAE, getting the treatment you need can be pricey. You may be refused treatment if you don’t have a valid policy. Our travel insurance policies cover jet-skiing as standard. And our 24-hour emergency assistance team is available to call, day or night.
Cancellations: Surfing in Hawaii. Snorkelling in Thailand. Trips to the world’s best water sports destinations can be expensive! Water sports travel insurance with cancellation cover can help if you have to cancel your trip.
All your activities: Want to do more than just water sports on your action-packed break? Our policies cover over 100 sports and activities as standard.
‘Water sports travel insurance’ is a general term. It applies to cover included within our standard policies and extreme sports add-on. We don’t offer specialist cover for this specific activity.
Make sure the policy you’ve chosen covers all the water sports you have planned. Ours include 34 different water sports as standard. But some water sports may require our extreme sports add-on. You may need additional gadget cover if you’re taking expensive equipment. 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 does InsureandGo’s water sports travel insurance cover?
Water sports travel insurance covers a range of activities at no extra charge. However, with the exception of sailing holidays, you’ll only be covered if the activity is NOT the main purpose of your trip.
Our water sports insurance may also cover you if you were to damage any people or property whilst taking part.
Here are a few examples of the kind of water sports we cover. For full details, see the policy wording booklet. If you’re still not sure if your chosen water sport is included, contact us.
Water sports covered at no extra charge
Includes cover for personal accident & personal liability
Banana boating
No
BOSS (Breathing Observation Submersible Scooter)
No
Canoeing (in calm waters, not sea canoeing)
Yes
Catamaran sailing (European waters only)
No
Cave tubing
Yes
Dinghy sailing inside territorial waters
No
Dragon boating
No
Hobie catting (European waters only)
No
Jet-boating
No
Jet-skiing
No
Kayaking (in calm waters, not sea kayaking)
No
Kite surfing
No
Paddleboarding (not white water)
Yes
Parasailing (over water)
No
River tubing
Yes
Rubber ring rides
Yes
Sailing (including Flotilla. European waters only)
No
Scuba diving (unqualified – up to 30 metres deep)
Yes
Scuba diving (Qualified British Sub Aqua Club, BSAC or equivalent – up to 30 metres deep)
Yes
Snorkelling (to 10 metres deep)
Yes
Surfing
Yes
Swimming (within sight of land)
Yes
Swimming with Dolphins
Yes
Wakeboarding
Yes
Water polo
Yes
Water skiing
Yes
White water rafting (Grades 1,2 & 3)
No
Windsurfing
Yes
Yachting (European Waters only)
No
Some water sports are considered higher risk. You will need to add extreme sports insurance when you buy your policy.
The following water sports need the extreme sports travel insurance add-on. With the exception of yachting, you’ll only be covered if the activity is NOT the main purpose of your trip.
Water sports requiring extreme activities insurance
Includes cover for personal accident & personal liability
We will consider all pre-existing medical conditions. Find out more about medical travel insurance. The excess and amount of cover available varies depending on the level of travel insurance you buy. Check the policy wording to see the full terms and conditions.
What’s not covered?
Each provider will have different things it can or cannot include in a policy. However, there are some situations in which travel insurance will not cover. For example:
You cannot cover events or reasons to claim that took place before you booked the trip or purchased insurance. Insurance exists to cover unexpected events outside of 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
The best water sports travel insurance for your trip
The best water sports travel insurance is as flexible as your holiday plans! Not sure what you need? We have a few suggestions:
Heading to Europe? Parasailing in the South of France sounds ideal. Our European policies cover this high-flying activity as standard.
Going as a group? Water sports are more fun with friends. Our group travel policies cover 34 different water sports as standard, from wakeboarding to water skiing.
Our travel insurance with water sports cover ensures you’re covered for any medical emergencies related to your pre-existing condition. It comes with no upper age limit. And we’ll consider cover for any medical conditions which are declared to us, including:
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.
How to book our water sports travel insurance
Get your travel insurance for water sports sorted in two easy steps.
Let us know a little info
Tell us about your holiday, who you want to cover, and when you want the policy to start. Any pre-existing medical conditions? Now’s the time to let us know.
Once we have the details, we can send you a quote! You can buy your policy there and then, or save it for the future.
Our experts say…
“Water sports are a popular holiday activity. But make sure you check your chosen activity is covered by your travel insurance policy. Our policies cover standard water sports like swimming, snorkelling and paddleboarding at no extra charge. But they also cover some activities that may surprise you, like jet-skiing or paragliding.”
“I have used InsureandGo before. The combination of the wide range of sports covered, the price and the ease of getting cover on line have always been excellent excellent. I had cause this time to speak to a ‘real person’ and the agent, Louise, proved to be knowledgeable, reassuring, patient and personable – with a smile in her voice. A great ambassador for the company..”
Does standard travel insurance cover water sports?
Yes, it does. But it depends on a number of factors:
The type of water sports you’re doing: Our travel insurance policies cover 34 water sports as standard. It even includes activities that may surprise you, like jet-skiing. Check the policy wording to ensure it covers your chosen activity. You may need additional extreme sports insurance to be fully covered.
How you’re carrying out your activity: Some water sports come with caveats. For example, we can only cover rowing, sailing and yachting if you are not taking part in a league or competition. Check the policy wording for full details.
Where you’re carrying out your activity: We can only cover some water sports if they take place in specific locations. For example, we’ll cover swimming if you’re within sight of land. We’ll cover yachting in European waters as standard. If you wish to sail further afield, you’ll need additional extreme sports insurance.
Your level of experience: For some water sports, like white water rafting, we can only provide insurance if you are adequately supervised or taking part in an organised event or excursion.
Your safety precautions: We can only cover water sports if you wear the appropriate safety equipment, clothing and headgear.
Your trip purpose: With the exception of sailing, our water sports insurance won’t cover you if that’s the whole purpose of your trip. For example, you’re on a surfing holiday.
Is travel insurance mandatory if you’re taking part in water sports abroad?
It depends on your chosen activity and destination. Reputable activity centres may insist that you have adequate travel insurance with water sports cover. This is particularly true for higher-risk activities such as white water rafting or scuba diving.
Which water sports count as extreme sports varies from insurer to insurer.
At InsureandGo, we cover 34 different water sports at no extra cost. These include some that may be considered an extreme sport by other insurance companies, such as:
BOSS (Breathing Observation Submersible Scooter)
Cave and river tubing
Jet-boating
Jet-skiing
Parasailing
Parascending
Scuba diving (up to 30 metres deep)
Surfing
White water rafting (grades 1, 2 & 3)
You won’t need to buy additional cover for these activities – and a whole lot more! However, there are some caveats to consider. For example, we’ll only cover you for white water rafting if you are adequately supervised.
Yachting (racing or crew) outside territorial waters
Take a look at our policy wording for a full list of the water sports we’ll cover. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact us.
Will the GHIC cover injuries from water sports?
Yes, it will. If you’re travelling to European Economic Area (EEA) countries, Switzerland and Australia, applying for the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is a good idea. It covers emergency treatment that cannot reasonably wait until you come back to the UK. It doesn’t matter how you get injured.
However, the GHIC doesn’t replace travel insurance. It doesn’t cover medical repatriation, private treatment, or certain rescue services. So, while it can help with emergency treatment, you should also have travel insurance with water sports cover in place.
Can I buy water sports insurance while travelling?
At InsureandGo, we cover 34 water sports as standard with all our policies. It means you won’t need to buy extra insurance for that spur-of-the-moment banana ride. But what about cover for more adventurous water sports? You can add extra extreme sports cover to your policy while you’re away. That’s as long as you haven’t already taken part in the activity. So if you fancy a spontaneous scuba dive, just give us a call on 0808 281 0594. You’ll need to secure your cover before you take part in your adventurous activity.
How much does water sports travel insurance cost?
The exact cost of travel insurance with water sports cover varies from person to person. This is because it is based on a wide range of factors, including:
The type of water sports you plan to do: Our travel insurance policies cover 34 water sports at no extra cost. If you’re planning on something more adventurous, you’ll need to take out extreme sports insurance.
Your age and overall health: Pre-existing medical conditions may not affect your sense of adventure. 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 surfing in the USA or snorkelling in the Caribbean? Worldwide policies that include these locations usually cost more due to the more expensive healthcare costs.
Travel insurance with water sports cover doesn’t have to be expensive. For example, an annual policy might work out cheaper if you’re planning on going abroad more than once this year. You may not need valuables cover if you’re not taking any prized possessions.
Find out how much water sports travel insurance will cost for you by calling our team. Or get a quick and easy quote online now.
Who can buy an InsureandGo water sports travel insurance policy?
All our water sports 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 water sports travel insurance works, or more general travel insurance queries, have a read through our FAQs.
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Travel Insurance Expert and Head of Communications
Letitia is a Travel Insurance expert with more than 20 years experience in helping people find specialist insurance. As Head of Communications at InsureandGo, Letitia cares about making it easy for people who love travel to get the cover they need.
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Based on 1,692 responses, correct as of 24/07/2025.
Based on 1,692 responses, correct as of 24/07/2025.
