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Water sports travel insurance

From snorkeling to jet skiing, water sports are popular activities for holidaymakers. But, they come with their own risks. That’s where travel insurance comes in! Having the right policy means you’re covered if something goes wrong, leaving you to enjoy your holiday to the fullest.

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Reviewed by Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert 4 min read | Published 15/04/2025

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Does travel insurance cover water sports?

Travel insurance will often cover low-risk water sports, like swimming in a hotel pool or snorkeling in shallow waters. But, if you're planning activities like jet skiing or scuba diving, you'll want to check your policy documents.

Typically, the riskier an activity, the less likely it is to be covered by travel insurance. This risk level comes from things like the risk of injury, or using expensive equipment that you'd need to replace if anything happened to it, for example.

What is water sports travel insurance?

Specialist water sports policies can cover the riskier activities, like surfing or white water rafting, that standard travel insurance doesn't normally cover. In some cases, water sports travel insurance is offered as an add-on to a standard travel insurance policy.

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We work with a panel of 43 travel insurers to find you policies. We'll show you a list of policies to suit your trip.

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Take a look at your options. Then, all you need to do is choose the policy that best suits you!

¹Correct as of February 2025

What our travel insurance expert says

"From snorkeling to jet skiing, water sports are popular activities for holidaymakers. But, they come with their own risks. That's where water sports travel insurance comes in! Having the right policy means you're covered if something goes wrong, leaving you to enjoy your holiday to the fullest."

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

What water sports travel insurance covers

As with any travel insurance policy, exactly what's covered will depend on the policy you choose. But let's take a look at what you can expect from a typical travel insurance policy:

What's typically included:

Baggage cover: If your luggage is lost or stolen, this can pay towards replacements.
Medical cover: If you’re injured or become ill and need medical attention, this can pay towards your medical bills.
Repatriation cover: This can cover the cost of transporting you home after an emergency.
Cancellation cover: This can cover the costs associated with your holiday if you need to cancel for an insured reason.
Third-party liability: This can cover your legal costs if a third-party takes action against you for causing injury or damage to their property.

Common exclusions:

Activities not named on the policy: Check your policy details to see what activities you’re covered for.
Travelling against FCDO advice: If the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to a destination and you go anyway, you won’t be covered.
Incidents that occur under the influence: If something happens while you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you won’t be covered.
Not following limits set out in your policy: If you’re taking part in activities, check the details of your policy to see exactly what you’re covered for. There might be stipulations like depth limits or wearing the correct safety gear.

See what else travel insurance covers

What activities are covered by water sports travel insurance?

This will ultimately depend on the level of cover you have. But, here's some common water sports that might be covered by water sports travel insurance:

Surfing
Jet skiing
Deep-sea scuba diving
Kite surfing
White water rafting

Water sports travel insurance for medical conditions

If you have a medical condition, it's important to declare it when you buy travel insurance. If you don't, you risk invalidating your cover, leaving you unprotected if things were to go wrong.

If you have a more serious condition, or multiple conditions, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurers that specialise in travel insurance for medical conditions. They might be able to offer you a quote.

It's also worth checking with activity organisers that they'll let you take part in water sports with a medical condition. Some conditions might affect your ability to safely take part.

Can I add water sports cover to existing travel insurance?

If you already have a travel insurance policy, it's worth contacting your insurer to see whether you can add extra cover. Just remember this'll come at an additional cost.

In some cases, insurers won't be able to offer you the cover you need. If this happens, you might be able to take out standalone water sports travel insurance to cover you for any activities you're planning.

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