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Best Dive Insurance to cover your dive trip
- Curtis Tredway
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Insurance is one of the least exciting parts of preparing for a dive trip… right up until you need it.
Freediving itself is very safe when practised correctly. But diving rarely happens in a vacuum. It usually involves flights, boats, unfamiliar food, remote locations, expensive equipment, and a schedule you’ve planned for months.
Most problems we see around diving aren’t dramatic accidents. They’re simple, frustrating things:
• sinus infections • Gravel burn from a scooter accident •ear injuries from equalising • lost luggage • flooded cameras • cancelled boats • illness during travel
And this is where insurance matters.
First Thing Most Divers Don’t Realise
Standard travel insurance often does not cover freediving
Many people assume their standard travel insurance automatically covers diving activities.
Often it doesn’t.
A lot of policies:
exclude breath-hold diving entirely
only cover snorkelling
cover scuba but only with a guide
apply depth limits (commonly around 18–20m)
Freediving training, courses, and depth sessions usually exceed those limits.
Some policies also exclude:
spearfishing
training courses
water sports
“hazardous activities”
You only discover this when making a claim.
Dive-Specific Insurance Providers
Because of this, many divers choose specialist dive insurers rather than general travel insurance.
Two commonly used providers are:
DiveAssure (I personally use them for most of my trips) - please note, this is also an affiliate link.
These companies are designed around diving-related incidents. They understand things standard insurers often don’t recognise, like:
barotrauma
lung squeeze
equalisation injuries
hyperbaric chamber treatment
evacuation from remote islands
Medical evacuation and chamber treatment can be extremely expensive, especially in remote parts of the world, which is exactly what dive-specific policies are intended to cover.
You Must Read the Inclusions (This Is the Important Part)
Insurance isn’t just whether you have it. It’s whether the details apply to you.
1) Depth Limits
Some policies technically cover diving but only under strict limits, commonly around 20m.
That may cover casual snorkelling or shallow scuba, but it often does not cover freediving training or depth sessions.
2) Activity Type
Make sure your policy specifically includes:
freediving / breath-hold diving
training or courses
spearfishing (if relevant)
Some policies cover “recreational diving” but exclude instruction, coaching, or organised activities.
3) Location / Region
A surprisingly common issue is destination exclusions.
Certain countries, remote islands, or regions may not be included automatically. Always confirm:
your exact country
remote locations
offshore islands
are listed as covered.
Equipment Coverage (Very Commonly Overlooked)
Many divers travel with expensive gear:
fins
wetsuits
computers
weight belts
GoPros
underwater housings
lights
Standard policies often:
exclude sporting equipment
exclude water damage
have low payout limits
A flooded underwater camera setup alone can be several thousand dollars. If you bring camera gear, confirm:
• underwater use is covered
• water damage is covered
• high-value items are declared
Travel Issues Are Actually the Most Common Claims
Medical incidents are not the only reason divers claim insurance.
Common real-world problems include:
Illness
Food poisoning and stomach illness while travelling are extremely common and can stop you diving for days.
Boat cancellations
Weather, swell, or mechanical problems can cancel charters or courses.
Lost or delayed luggage
Airlines frequently delay or lose dive bags, especially fins and long luggage.
Injuries outside diving
Many claims come from simple accidents during travel, not underwater:
slips
scooter crashes
surf injuries
Good insurance covers more than just the diving itself.
A Simple Checklist
Before any dive travel, check that your policy:
explicitly covers freediving
has no restrictive depth limit
includes medical treatment
includes evacuation
includes trip interruption/cancellation
covers sickness
covers lost luggage
covers dive equipment
covers underwater cameras
covers your destination region
Why It Matters
Insurance isn’t about expecting something to go wrong.
It removes a big mental load.
When you know you’re covered, you can focus on what actually matters: relaxing, diving safely, and enjoying the ocean.
Most of the time you won’t use it.
But if you ever need it, it becomes one of the most valuable pieces of gear you brought with you.
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