Scuba Diving Insurance

How do I buy scuba diving holiday insurance online?

Getting covered with Rise & Shield's scuba diving holiday insurance is a breeze. 

Follow these simple steps to secure your diving adventure:

Scuba diving insurance FAQs

Does travel insurance cover scuba diving?

It can, but ordinary travel insurance may restrict diving by depth, qualification or type of dive. Rise & Shield covers eligible recreational scuba diving from instructor-supervised beginner dives through to qualified diving up to 30m, depending on the activity level selected.

Does Rise & Shield cover beginner scuba divers?

Yes. Unqualified Learn to Dive courses and Discover Dives with a professional, qualified and licensed instructor or operator are included within the standard Adventure activity level.

Does scuba diving insurance cover PADI Open Water courses?

Eligible learn-to-dive courses can be covered as standard when they are undertaken with the required qualified instructor or operator. You must follow the instructor's rules and the requirements of the recognised diving organisation running the course.

How deep can I scuba dive with standard Rise & Shield cover?

Eligible scuba diving up to 18m is included within the standard Adventure activity level, provided you meet the qualification and other activity conditions.

Does Rise & Shield cover scuba diving to 30m?

Yes. Adventure Plus extends eligible conventional scuba diving to a maximum depth of 30m. No scuba or cage dive deeper than 30m is covered.

When do I need Adventure Plus for scuba diving?

You need Adventure Plus if your planned scuba diving will exceed the standard 18m limit and remain at or below 30m. Shark-cage diving and swimming with whales or whale sharks also require Adventure Plus under the current activity table.

Can I dive deeper than my current qualification limit during a course?

Potentially. Qualified divers are normally limited to their current qualification depth, but the policy allows this limit to be exceeded when accompanied by a qualified instructor while completing a recognised course requirement of their diving association. The overall 30m maximum still applies.

Which scuba diving qualifications does Rise & Shield recognise?

The policy specifically names PADI, BSAC, SAA and CMAS and also allows an equivalent internationally recognised qualification. You must hold the appropriate current qualification for the dive and follow the relevant association, club or confederation rules and guidelines.

Do I need a professional dive guide on every scuba dive?

Not necessarily if you are already appropriately qualified. Qualified divers must comply with their certification and diving-association rules, remain within the permitted depth and qualification limits, and must not dive solo or unaccompanied. Unqualified divers must remain under the constant supervision of a properly licensed diving instructor.

Is solo scuba diving covered?

No. Solo and unaccompanied scuba dives are excluded, including where the diver would otherwise meet the required qualification and depth limits.

Is cave diving covered?

No. Cave diving and scuba diving in overhead environments are excluded.

Is wreck diving covered?

A conventional open-water dive around a wreck may potentially meet the scuba activity conditions if it remains within your qualification and depth limits. However, wreck penetration that places you in an overhead environment is excluded.

Is night diving covered?

Night diving is not separately listed as an excluded activity. It may therefore fall within eligible conventional scuba diving where you have the appropriate qualification or supervision, remain accompanied, stay within the insured depth and comply with your diving organisation's rules. Check your exact dive arrangements if you are unsure.

Is technical diving covered?

Rise & Shield's scuba activity is limited to conventional scuba diving. Activities involving excluded overhead environments, solo diving, diving for gain or reward, diving beyond your qualification limits or diving deeper than 30m are not covered. If your planned dive is described as technical diving, check the exact activity before purchasing.

Is free diving covered by scuba diving insurance?

No. Free diving is specifically excluded from the scuba diving activities.

Is cliff diving covered?

No. Cliff diving is specifically excluded from the scuba diving activities.

Is shark-cage diving covered?

Yes. Shark-cage diving is expressly included within the scuba diving up to 30m activity and requires Adventure Plus. The 30m maximum and applicable scuba-diving conditions still apply.

Is swimming with whales or whale sharks covered?

Yes, as a separate Adventure Plus activity when swimming with whales or whale sharks inside coastal waters. The applicable professional operator or guide condition also applies.

Are snorkelling and swimming with dolphins covered?

Eligible inshore snorkelling in supervised beach settings is included within the standard Adventure activity level. Swimming with dolphins is also listed as a standard Adventure activity, subject to its professional operator or guide condition.

The marine-activity classifications above come directly from Rise & Shield's current activity table and policy wording.

Can I scuba dive within 24 hours of travelling home?

No. Eligible 18m and 30m scuba activities both exclude dives taking place less than 24 hours before departure to your home. The policy uses "departure to your home", rather than limiting this condition only to flying.

Does scuba diving travel insurance cover decompression sickness?

The policy does not list decompression sickness as a separate standalone benefit. However, eligible emergency medical treatment for a sudden and unforeseen illness or bodily injury incurred abroad may be covered where the dive itself meets the policy conditions, subject to the medical benefit limits, exclusions and excesses.

Is hyperbaric chamber treatment covered?

Hyperbaric chamber treatment is not separately named in the current policy wording. Where such treatment is medically necessary following an eligible diving incident, the associated medical costs may fall within the emergency medical benefit, subject to policy terms and authorisation requirements. Contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Centre as soon as possible.

Does scuba insurance cover medical evacuation after a diving accident?

Eligible medical evacuation may be covered when a sudden and unforeseen illness or injury requires evacuation in the opinion of the medical advisers. The Emergency Assistance Centre must be contacted and determines the appropriate method and arrangements for evacuation or repatriation.

Is helicopter evacuation covered after a scuba diving accident?

Potentially. A medically necessary helicopter evacuation can be covered when it is pre-approved by the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Centre. The assistance team determines whether helicopter transport is appropriate and a separate helicopter-rescue excess applies.

Is 24/7 emergency assistance included with scuba diving insurance?

Yes. Rise & Shield policies provide access to a 24-hour emergency assistance service for medical emergencies while travelling. Serious medical emergencies, evacuation and repatriation should be referred to the Emergency Assistance Centre as quickly as possible.

The medical and evacuation wording is intentionally cautious here: the policy covers necessary and reasonable emergency medical expenses for eligible sudden illness or injury, while medical evacuation and repatriation must be medically justified and arranged through the assistance service.

Is my own scuba diving equipment covered if it is lost, stolen or damaged?

Eligible personal belongings may be covered under the Baggage and Personal Effects benefit, subject to the policy's overall and single-item limits, security requirements, depreciation, exclusions and excess. However, breakage or damage to sports equipment while it is being used is specifically excluded.

Is rented or hired scuba equipment covered?

Not under the normal Personal Luggage benefit. Items that are loaned, hired or entrusted to you are specifically excluded.

Are dive computers, underwater cameras and expensive camera equipment covered?

Eligible personal electronics and camera equipment may fall within the baggage provisions, subject to the applicable limits and exclusions. The optional High-Value Items add-on can provide additional protection for selected valuables such as cameras and personal electronics. Check the value and eligibility of your individual items before travelling.

The current baggage wording is why I would not repeat the old page's blanket promise to replace damaged regulators, BCDs and cameras: sports equipment damaged while in use is excluded, hired equipment is excluded, and baggage remains subject to individual limits and security conditions.

Does scuba diving insurance cover cancellation of my diving holiday?

Eligible unrecoverable trip costs may be covered when you have to cancel or curtail your trip for one of the insured reasons in the policy, such as a qualifying unforeseen illness or injury. Cancellation cover does not mean every reason for cancelling a diving holiday is insured.

Am I covered if bad weather causes me to miss a dive?

Not automatically. The policy does not provide a specific "lost diving days" benefit, and adverse-weather losses are excluded from the cancellation and curtailment section. Separately booked one-day tours and activities also have specific cancellation exclusions. Always seek any available refund or compensation from the dive operator first.

What if I have booked a multi-day diving package or liveaboard?

A multi-day dive package that forms a material part of your trip and was booked before departure may be treated differently from a separately booked one-day activity for cancellation purposes. Any claim must still arise from an insured event and meet the relevant policy conditions and benefit limits.

Can scuba diving from a liveaboard be covered?

Potentially, yes. Being based on a liveaboard does not change the scuba-diving depth and qualification rules: each planned dive still needs to meet the relevant activity conditions. Other activities included in the liveaboard itinerary should be checked separately.

The policy distinguishes separately booked one-day activities from qualifying multi-day activities that form a material part of the trip, while adverse weather itself is excluded from cancellation and curtailment losses.

Does Rise & Shield cover professional or paid scuba diving?

No. Activities are insured on an amateur basis, and the scuba exclusions specifically include diving for gain or reward. Professional or semi-professional participation is also excluded.

Can a scuba instructor use this insurance while working?

Not for professional diving work. The policy excludes diving for gain or reward, and the activity exclusions also exclude professional or semi-professional participation. Work or volunteering as a diving instructor or guide should not be treated as recreational scuba cover.

Do Personal Accident and Public Liability benefits apply while I am scuba diving?

No. The current policy states that Personal Accident and Public Liability cover do not apply while participating in activities covered under the Adventure, Adventure Plus or Adventure Extreme activity sections.

Does scuba diving insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?

Claims arising from conditions defined by the policy as pre-existing are excluded. This is particularly important for diving trips because having medical clearance to dive does not by itself override the travel insurance policy's pre-existing-condition exclusion.

Can I use Annual Multi-Trip insurance for scuba diving holidays?

Potentially, yes. Scuba diving can form part of an eligible Annual Multi-Trip journey provided the trip meets the annual-policy conditions and the appropriate activity level is selected. Adventure Plus is still required where your planned diving requires it.

What should the best travel insurance for scuba diving include?

Look beyond a generic "adventure sports" label. Check the actual insured depth, whether your certification is accepted, whether beginner courses are allowed, whether medical evacuation and repatriation are included, what happens with expensive equipment, whether your other marine activities require an add-on, and which types of diving are expressly excluded.

When should I buy scuba diving travel insurance?

It is generally sensible to arrange your insurance after booking your trip rather than waiting until departure, particularly if you want eligible cancellation protection to begin. Before purchasing, check the deepest planned dive, your current qualification, any courses you will be taking and every other activity on your itinerary.

How can I check whether my exact diving activity is covered?

Check each planned activity individually using the Rise & Shield activities list or Trip Activity Checker. Do not assume that scuba diving automatically includes other experiences such as shark-cage diving, whale-shark swimming, spearfishing or other marine activities. Your completed quote and policy documents remain the final basis of cover.

The remaining activity exclusions — including amateur-only participation and the lack of Personal Accident/Public Liability during insured adventure activities — are set out in the current policy. Pre-existing conditions are also excluded as defined there.

Other useful scuba-diving resources

PADI AWARE Foundation

Scuba Diving Magazine

NOAA Diving Program