Scuba diving has earned itself a label as a marginally dangerous or adventure sport because like many activities there are varying degrees of risk associated with skill, training and the level of risk you expose yourself to.

Before you get yourself into deep water, it follows that you should organise appropriate insurance before you dive in.

Or at the very least once you are in your Red Sea resort or wherever and decide to go for your PADI certificate get your travel insurance amended.

Nowadays this can be done online - depending on the insurer - so seek out your nearest internet café - your hotel might be able to accommodate you.

Just remember that not all insurers will accommodate any change to your policy, if you've already started your journey.

Companies That Offer Scuba Diving Insurance

The British Sub Aqua Club

Without doubt the world's No. 1 diving club - The British Sub Aqua Club (BS-AC) is among the most respected diving organisations on the planet.

It offers discounted diving, travel & equipment insurance through Dive Master Insurance Consultants Ltd of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

BS-AC Membership

You have to be a member to enjoy the deals on offer, though - depending on your age, annual membership costs anything between £13 - £53 a year.

As part of their membership subscription, members receive total worldwide 3rd party liability cover up to a limit of £5 million.

You can find cheaper travel insurance elsewhere, but whether you'll find a better package for divers is debatable.

The BS-AC Travel Insurance policy is made up of two parts:

International Diving Emergency Card (IDEC)
Travel Insurance

IDEC is worldwide sports injury insurance for divers.

International Diving Emergency Card (IDEC)

Whereas most ordinary travel insurance policies won't cover suitably certified divers to dive without an instructor, IDEC will.

And ordinary travel insurance may not cover all your UK diving if it is not part of a pre- booked trip. IDEC will.

With IDEC, the depth limit is a maximum of 50 metres on air and 75 metres on Trimix, depending on your qualification, although there's no depth limit in an emergency or attempt to save human life.

Diving Injuries

If you have an accident, IDEC's liability continues when you return to the UK if you still need specialist treatment.

This is important when you consider that diving injuries can last for a long time. You could end up on an NHS waiting list for 2 years for non-urgent surgery whereas with IDEC you would be treated privately immediately.

You can choose between single trip insurance and 3 different annual polices.

All the annual policies include an annual IDEC for the main policyholder, covering all diving UK and overseas.

Policy Cover

The travel insurance has all the benefits you'd expect under a standard travel policy -

Medical expenses up to £3 million
Cancellation up to £3,000
Baggage up to £1,500

But unlike standard travel insurance policies, you're covered up to £3,000 for cancellation if you're fit to travel but unfit to dive.

Individuals, couples and families

The policies have 2 parts - a travel section for individuals, couples or families, and a separate section (IDEC) to cover the divers in your family. That way, the price and policy can be tailored to suit your own family.

Couples must be permanent partners who live together
All family members to be insured must be resident at the same address.
For Family policies, children to be insured must be under 16.
All divers must also be insured under the Travel Section.

For the full range and details of the BSAC Insurance, contact:

Dive Master Insurance Consultants Ltd., PO Box 146, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 1SZ. Tel: 01702 476902, Fax: 01702 471892.

insurefor.com

insurefor.com covers scuba diving with an instructor to depths of 30m.

Qualified divers are covered to depths of 30m when diving with a buddy.

For diving between 30m and 50m you'll have to arrange for your policy to be endorsed to show the additional cover.

Buddy Travel

Buddy Travel's single trip insurance policy caters for the recreational diver who's only likely to take 1 or 2 trips a year.

Non-divers discount

Non-divers in the party get a 25% discount.

No depth limit

There's no dive depth limit - provided you're diving reasonably and to your qualifications and experience.

Multi-trip policy

Recognising that holidays aren't the only times when people dive - more and more people also dive all year round in British waters - Buddy now has a new optional extension to its annual multi-trip policy.

Whether you're diving in-land or off-shore, you can be covered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for all recreational diving in the United Kingdom.

Also for Snow Sports

Incidentally Buddy also offers travel insurance for skiers including off-piste skiing, snowboarding and mono-skiing. www.buddyindepth.co.uk

Dive Master

Dive Master offer cover for the cost of lost diving days (pre-booked and pre-paid) if you fall ill at your resort and for diving equipment up to £1000 including during use.

Policies are available on a "short trip" basis for locations ranging from the UK to Europe (includes Mediterranean, Red Sea adjoining coastlines, Canary Islands and Madeira, but excludes Albania and Libya) to Worldwide.

Premiums vary depending on length of trip and location, and you only pay for what you require.

Choice of Policies

There's a choice of 2 annual travel insurance policies for individuals or families (including non-divers).

The policies are divided into 2 sections, so that you can tailor the cover to suit your own needs, so you only pay for the cover you require.

Dogtag Insurance

Question: Where do you keep your insurance documents when scuba diving?

Answer: With Dogtag insurance, it's around your neck - in the shape of a solid steel dogtag - what else?

Clever marketing aside, the format is designed by the British Paramedic Association.

Engraved with your name, personal tag no. and a dedicated web address, your personal web page stores details of your blood type, allergies, doctor's details, next of kin, etc. Action-minded travelers

Designed for action-minded travellers, Dogtag's unique ID and rescue system offers worldwide cover for:

Adventure

Watersports
Snow sports
Mountain sports
Backpacking breaks

Or just chilling.

Click on www.dogtag.co.uk for more info.

Essential Travel

Essential Travel provide cover automatically for a number of sporting activities, where other insurance providers would charge an additional premium, including Scuba Diving to a depth of 30 metres.

Related Info