Most travel insurance policies will come with cover for certain water sports as standard.
Here’s a few water sports you might find on your policy:
Some more extreme activities, like white water rafting might be offered as an optional add-on.
If you’re deep diving or cage diving with sharks, you might need a specialist water sports policy.
Sometimes you can buy cover as part of the experience on the day but read the terms and conditions carefully. If you sign a waiver, make sure that you’re still protected incase something goes wrong.
Surprisingly, sports like sea kayaking and stand up paddle boarding aren’t usually included in your policy. Check the details to see exactly which water sports are covered. If they're excluded, you might be able to add them for a fee.
There are always limits and exclusions to cover, the same goes for water sports:
Some insurers apply age limits. For example, you might need to be over 18 to be covered if you jet ski, while surfing cover might be limited to under 50s.
Every insurer has an exclusion around alcohol consumption. Some state a specific alcohol limit – for example, no more than four pints of beer – while others might say claims will be rejected if you’re found to have had your judgement impaired by drink or drugs.
If you need to claim and it’s found you weren’t wearing the correct safety equipment or following instructions, you won’t be covered.
Most policies that include sailing will only cover you if you’re sailing within 12 miles of the shore.
You'll usually only be covered if you're with an instructor. If you’re qualified to paraglide alone, you’ll have to search for a policy that covers this.
According to Defaqto, only 21% of annual travel insurance policies cover white water rafting as standard.[2] White water rafting is one of the riskier water sports, and is classified in six different levels. Insurers might restrict you to only white water rafting in rapids between grades one to three.
If you’re going on several trips per year, annual travel insurance cover will be more cost effective than multiple single-trip policies
Only get cover for the water sports you’ll be doing, otherwise you’ll be wasting money on cover you don’t need
Don’t get a cheaper travel insurance policy if it means you’ll lose out on important aspects of cover you might need
The easiest way to make sure you’re getting value for money is by comparing a range of travel insurance policies which include water sports cover
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[2]Last checked 18 August 2022