Dive Insurance

Are you looking for the best dive insurance for scuba divers?

Look no further because in this post I will give you a detailed comparison of my top picks for scuba diving insurance in 2023, and answer the following questions:

• What is the best dive insurance for scuba divers?
• Why should you get dive insurance?
• Which types of dive insurance exist?

The best dive insurance for scuba divers in 2023

These are the best dive insurance options in 2023 for every budget:

• Best overall: DiveAssure DiveSafe & Travel
• Budget Option: aquaMed Dive Card

aquamed Dive Card

aquamed Dive Card features

• 24/7 emergency hotline
• Diving accident insurance
• Travel insurance included
• Tech, cave & solo-diving supported
• Family plan very affordable
• Professional option available

aquaMed offers great coverage for an incredible price with their standard plan called dive card basic.

All types of diving accidents are covered, as well as the full cost of any hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatments.

The dive card basic can be used by recreational, as well as technical and cave divers. Even solo diving is covered.

What sets this one apart from others, however, is that all “medically reasonable treatments” are covered without limit instead of just necessary ones. This gives doctors or chiro practitioners more freedom of choosing optimal treatments.

Note that the dive card basic is not a dive insurance per se but a full medical service for divers.

This means that they offer a line of benefits to their customers besides diving accident insurance.

Included in the plan are travel insurance for up to 56 days per trip which is great for long vacations or doing a compact Divemaster course abroad.

Additionally, a year-round diving liability insurance is included which is important for diving in certain areas along the Mediterranean coast.

Of course, everyone cares about price first and it must be said that for only 49€/year the aquamed dive card basic is a bargain for what you get.

Dive instructors, Dive Masters, and other diving professionals can get the aquamed dive card professional which also includes a dive instructor liability insurance.

For 149€/year this is still significantly cheaper than other options on our list.

There is also dive insurance for families, the aquamed dive card family if your partner and children are also into scuba diving.

For 109€/year it covers up to 2 parents and 2 children under 21 living in one household and is a steal for a family of divers. Additional children may be added for an extra 15€/year, too.

The biggest downside to the aquamed dive insurance is that it is only available if you have an EU address.

I spoke to aquamed representatives on several occasions and they confirmed they are not planning on offering their services to other areas such as North America any time in the foreseeable future.

Another issue is that their maximum allowed diving depth is a little vague.

By default, there is no maximum depth and instead, aquamed requires that you stay within “recommendations of internationally accepted organizations for recreational diving“.

Striving too far off these limits may be considered gross negligence which is not covered by the policy. With an Open Water Diver certificate from i.a.c., the limit would be 20 meters (65 feet), whereas PADI sets 18 meters (60 feet) as the guideline.

However, when we get into deep diving down to the maximum recreational diving depth, things start to look very different.

Most training organizations have adopted 40 meters (130 feet) as the maximum depth, whereas a CMAS 3* diver is even allowed to dive down to 66 meters (216ft).

If you are a vacation diver who goes on guided dives mostly, this will most likely never affect you (as nobody else, as well, really) but if you enjoy deep diving, make sure you are aware of the limits set by your training agency and adhere to country-specific laws and regulations.

I recommend aquamed for everyone living in Europe or the European Union, as they arguably offer the best coverage for the money.

I have used it myself and have only had good experiences with them.

The dive card basic costs 49€ per year and their diving insurance –which covers all diving-related issues and hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatments- comes with travel insurance, as well.

All in all, the dive card is among the best dive insurance out there.

Get your aquamed dive card here!

DiveAssure DiveSafe & Travel

DiveAssure DiveSafe Features

• 24/7 emergency hotline
• Diving accident insurance
• Dive Equipment covered
• Tech, cave & solo-diving supported
• No depth limit
• Liveaboard coverage available

DiveAssure is a pure scuba diving insurance provider which offers great coverage with their DiveSafe and Dive & Travel plans. All types of diving accidents are covered, as well as the full cost of any hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatments.

There is no depth limit and every type of diving is covered. From recreational to technical and cave diving, with air or mixed gases.

The same holds for solo and ice-diving.

Our favorite part about the DiveAssure offering is the option to expand the DiveSafe plan to include travel insurance that covers lost dive equipment, missed diving days due to flight delays, and even liveaboard coverage.

The Dive & Travel plans are even better because they include travel insurance for up to unlimited trips per year, including lost baggage and damaged scuba gear coverage. What’s not to like about that?

The DiveSafe plans start at around 69€ per year while the Dive & Travel basic plan is slightly more expensive. If you only dive in your home country, the basic plan is more than enough.

However, if you are a frequent traveler, we recommend at least the Dive & Travel package, as it’s just too good to miss out on that equipment coverage.

The family option comes at a 10% discount on all dive plans and is really worth it if you are a family of avid divers. After all, the more people join on a vacation, the higher the chance that something may go unplanned.

A drawback of the DiveAssure insurance plans is that diving in the US is not covered for US citizens. If you are a US citizen wanting to cave dive in Florida, you will have to look elsewhere in that case.

It must also be said that, in comparison to aquaMed, travel insurance is not included in the basic plan. However, the DiveAssure travel insurance is much more extensive than the former.

DiveAssure does not impose any limits on diving depths and the types of diving you do.

Mixed gases, rebreathers, solo, and cave diving all fall under the policy without any additional cost.

The coolest part about the Dive & Travel options is the liveaboard coverage which will reimburse you for any missed diving days on a boat in the case of delayed flights.

If you travel for a long time to get to your destinations, things can happen. Quite a few people have missed their liveaboard when their flights were delayed, their luggage didn’t arrive or something else went wrong.

Verdict: A-

If you are willing to spend some extra money on your diving insurance, DiveAssure is the way to go. They might be more expensive, but the added benefits for scuba divers are undoubtedly worth it.

A good part about this insurance is also that it is available to anyone and not restricted to Europe or the USA.

Get your Dive Assure insurance here!

Why should you get scuba insurance?

First things first: Diving is an extreme sport, albeit being generally considered a safe activity.

Remember those disclaimers you signed for your dive instructor before your Discover Scuba Diving experience and every other diving activity since then?

Diving is always at your own risk!

Nothing compared to base jumping, wingsuit flying, or boxing, but as we all know, accidents happen.

Here are three reasons, why you absolutely, positively need dedicated dive insurance.

Most health insurance plans do not cover diving accidents

In general, most health insurance plans (if not all) do not cover scuba diving-related accidents or treatments.

Check back with your insurance, but most likely diving is not included.

Just like you sign up for separate insurance for your car, your house, when playing sports at a club or going rock climbing, scuba diving requires similar measures.

It protects you from large hospital bills

Getting your own dive insurance helps you avoid large hospital bills and post-treatment costs if anything ever happens.

Hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatments can cost up to 10,000$ per treatment and several of those are often needed after accidents.

It also doesn’t always have to be the worst case. There are many incidents that can happen during your diving activities that can require medical treatment.

Breaking your toe while walking to the dive spot, falling off the ladder on your liveaboard safari, or getting an ear inflammation from the saltwater all count as such accidents which are covered.

Speaking of which, make sure to read up on these tips for better ear care for scuba divers.

It is very affordable

Since many divers still do not have appropriate dive insurance, tour operators, dive schools and resorts often sell short-term insurance plans for the duration of the stay.

While this is of course a viable option, these plans can cost anywhere between 20 to 100$ per week.

If you compare that to the cost of dedicated diving insurance offered by providers such as AquaMed or DiveAssure which start at as low as 50$ per year, this becomes a much better deal for almost every diver.

Dedicated dive insurance also offers further benefits such as a 24/7 medical emergency hotline, coverage of all diving-related accidents, and even complimentary travel insurance.

Therefore, I highly encourage you to get scuba-insured as soon as possible.

Again: It’s very affordable and every diver should have one!

Which types of dive insurance exist?

There are different types of scuba diving insurance out there by several providers all around the world.

• Basic & Extended
• Annual & Short-term
• Single & Family/Partner
• Recreational & Pro
• Scuba Travel Insurance

Some only provide basic coverage for strictly in-water scuba diving accidents while others will include travel, non-diving related concerns, or cover lost dive equipment.

The most important thing you should ensure is that hyperbaric oxygen chamber (HBO) treatments are fully covered by whichever plan you choose. All the insurance plans that we list below offer this.

Basic Scuba Diving Insurance

Basic dive insurance covers all accidents that happen during a dive. Most importantly, this includes any type or form of decompression sickness (DCS) or accidents with underwater creatures.

DCS type I and II will normally be treated in Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers which can become very costly very fast. All the insurance plans that we list below offer this as this is the main reason for getting scuba-insured in the first place.

As many accidents in scuba diving happen when ladders are involved, good dive insurance will include getting in and out of the water, as well.

You receive 24/7 phone support that puts you in contact with medical professionals who will know what to do in case of an emergency.

In general, basic dive insurance is very affordable but won’t offer any bells and whistles and excludes coverage of lost or damaged equipment.

Extended Scuba Diving Insurance

Extended or advanced diving insurance includes all the features of basic dive insurance plans, while also covering other issues related to diving, which are not connected to being in the water.

Got your hand under a scuba tank? Ouch! Extended insurance will pay for x-rays and other treatments, even if you never went on that dive.

Did you rub sand in your ear on the beach and now it hurts? Extended plans will cover ear treatments and many other things and don’t require them to be directly connected to scuba diving.

Many of these incidents are also covered by basic insurance plans, however, we have to differentiate between necessary vs. suggested treatments.

Suggested treatments include anything that would be good for you…but isn’t 100% necessary.

Example: You touched a lionfish underwater, leading to painful burns on your arm.

Necessary treatments include immediate medical treatment by a medical professional until the symptoms are gone. Suggested treatments would go even further and offer you follow-up examinations after a few weeks and half a year later to see if you came away with any scars that could be treated further.

This is why I ALWAYS recommend checking the terms of each insurance plan for their wording and clauses on such issues.

Annual & Short-Term Dive Insurance

Some dive insurance plans I list below offer short-term options in addition to their annual plans.

I myself, of course, hold annual dive insurance as I dive year-round and it is waaaaaay cheaper than signing up for short-term ones multiple times a year.

However, if you only do one dive vacation per year, then shorter plans like the 14-day dive insurance by DiveAssure make a lot of sense.

Single & family/partner dive insurance

If your family or partner dives, as well, check out the family plans many dive insurance providers offer. They are much cheaper than signing up everyone on their own and usually include up to two children under 18.

Recreational & pro dive insurance

As you probably guessed, I hold a professional dive insurance plan, as I am – surprise, surprise- a dive professional. 😃

This is a requirement by most training agencies as it includes instructor liability insurance and other important clauses.

Scuba travel insurance

Scuba travel insurance is very useful, especially when you like to go diving at remote and exotic places.

Liveaboard safaris at such places often need to be booked far in advance and you never know what might happen in the meantime.

Many long-awaited diving trips have to be canceled due to a major flu, job changes, or other good reasons.

Especially if you like to book all parts of your travel individually instead of going through a travel agent, scuba travel insurance is a must.

Many of the best dive spots in the world are secluded and hard to reach. Missing a connection could mean missing a day or more of your trip. Some providers offer add-ons that cover lost diving days due to travel delays.

My favorite one is the DiveAssure travel plan which I recommend to all our guests before every dive trip.

How to choose the best dive insurance?

The question of how to choose the best dive insurance for you and your family mainly depends largely on how you answer the following questions:

1. Where do you live?
2. How much do you want to spend on scuba diving insurance?
3. How much do you dive every year?
4. What kind of diving do you do or plan on doing in the future?
5. Do you want to become a dive professional such as Divemaster or Instructor?
6. Do you want extra coverage or insurance benefits?
7. Do you want travel insurance for scuba diving trips?
8. Are you a tech/wreck/cave diver?

Where do you live?

Before deciding on an insurance plan, make sure you are eligible to sign up for it before. Depending on your place of residency you might encounter different rates or policies.

How much do you want to spend on scuba diving insurance?

Setting a budget is always good. However, don’t save on the wrong end. Scuba diving is not cheap and most of us spend thousands of dollars on equipment and trips every year.

Trying to save a few dollars by neglecting important features or not getting dive insurance at all, will cost you more in the long run.

How much do you dive every year?

Do you dive year-round or only once a year? Short-term options are available for those who don’t plan on scuba diving at home.

What kind of diving do you do or plan on doing in the future?

Do you only dive in warm waters during vacations? Are you planning on joining a dive community in the future to dive with friends on the weekends, too?

Depending on the kind of diving you do, your needs might change. If you go deep diving, check the depth limits stated in the policy.

The more you dive, the more features might be interesting for you, and a higher price for better coverage becomes justifiable.

Do you want to become a Divemaster or Instructor?

If you work as a Divemaster or scuba instructor or want to become one in the near future, you will need to get a professional dive insurance plan. This is required by law and such insurance policies will include liability insurance, accidents with students, and extended foreign travel options.

Do you want extra coverage or insurance benefits?

Are you content with basic coverage or do you want extended features to be included? If your health insurance doesn’t include sports-related injuries or travel, then extended dive insurance could make sense for you.

Do you want travel insurance for scuba diving trips?

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that plans can change unexpectedly and beyond our control.

If you frequently book liveaboard safaris in remote areas or travel multiple times per year, get scuba diving travel insurance, too.

Are you a tech/wreck/cave diver?

If you are a tech diver or aspiring to be, take an insurance policy that covers different breathing gases, cave diving, and depth limits beyond the recreational ones.