Travel Insurance for Snorkelling and Scuba Diving

What are Snorkelling and Scuba Diving?

Snorkelling and scuba diving are among the most popular water sports in several tropical countries. Both snorkelling and scuba diving are water-based activities where you can observe underwater life. However, both are very distinct when it comes to equipment, purpose, and experience required. Here's a brief overview of both:

Snorkelling

Snorkelling is a recreational surface-based activity that allows you to observe marine life from the water's surface. You need specific equipment like a mask, fins and snorkel (a tube that lets you breathe underwater) to observe the marine life. Snorkelling is mostly done near coral reefs that offer a beautiful collection of aquatic flora and fauna. It is also a very beginner-friendly water-based sport that does not require much experience or training.

SCUBA Diving

On the other hand, SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) is an underwater activity. It requires deep diving so that you can explore underwater environments. The equipment used for SCUBA diving includes a BCD (buoyancy control device), a dive tank, a wet or dry suit, fins and more. It requires proper certification and training as it involves diving to great depths. It is commonly done to explore coral reefs, geological formations, shipwrecks and underwater life.

Is there a Travel Insurance for Snorkelling and Scuba Diving?

There is no specific insurance policy for snorkelling or scuba diving in India. Most travel insurance plans in India don't cover adventure sports and activities unless specified otherwise. However, several Indian insurers offer comprehensive travel insurance coverage, including adventure sports coverage.

Policies offering adventure sports coverage also cover snorkelling and scuba diving. Most comprehensive international travel insurance plans in India provide coverage for a variety of adventure sports, including:

• Trekking
• Skiing
• Rock Climbing
• SCUBA diving
• Snorkelling
• Paragliding
• Jet Skiing, etc.

However, it is best to confirm if your sport of choice is covered by the insurer. Another important thing to note is that your adventure sports insurance will not cover you if you're participating in these activities professionally or for a competition.

Why Do Adventure Sports Need Insurance Coverage?

Adventure sports such as snorkelling and SCUBA diving are popular water sports known for their adrenaline-inducing experience. Especially when it comes to SCUBA diving, the activity requires certain skills because of many risks. First-time divers may face complications like decompression sickness, and embolism and may even drown if things go wrong.

Be it water-based, land-based or air-based, all blood-pumping adventure sports come with considerable risk. The only way to be completely safe from these risks is to not participate in these sports.

If you are an adventure junkie, then this may leave you rather disappointed despite a fun-filled trip. Travel insurance with adventure sports cover allows you peace of mind that any related medical expenses will be covered by your policy.

Other than health-related risks, many travel insurers also cover the sports equipment used during adventure sports. Certain plans also offer coverage for theft, loss or damage caused to these equipment.

In worst-case scenarios, your travel insurance plan will cover hospitalisation expenses if you get injured while participating in these activities. Medical evacuation benefits may or may not be offered depending on the insurer, so it is best to confirm before purchasing your policy.

Is Adventure Sports Cover Included in Travel Insurance?

Adventure sports coverage is generally excluded from travel insurance benefits. However, certain international travel insurance policies offer this coverage as an add-on.

This means you can get covered for many adventure sports-related risks if you buy this add-on and your comprehensive travel insurance policy. Not all Indian travel insurers offer this benefit or add-on, so you must gauge all the risks and find a plan that covers them.

Sunny beaches and calm waters make for a brilliant vacation, even more so if you're one for underwater adventures. However, even with the most bulletproof diving plan and precautions, an accident is totally possible. In spite of considerable experience, you should always consider the risks associated with adventure sports. If adventure sports are a must in your trip itinerary, you should take all possible precautions to safeguard yourself from potential medical and financial risks.