Award-Winning, Flexible
WATER SPORTS
TRAVEL INSURANCE
- Worldwide Protection available
- Over 500 Sports Covered
- UK's leading sports insurance provider
Our Water Sports Insurance policy options
Put simply, we offer three different policy options…
1. Travel Insurance
Our Sports Travel Insurance will cover you whilst participating in water sports abroad for leisure or competition and includes cover for medical and repatriation costs, trip cancellation and curtailment, plus more.
2. Travel Insurance Bolt-On
If you have an existing travel insurance policy in place with another provider such as your bank but it does not include cover for water sports, we can provide a bolt-on style of protection for your trip.
3. Sports Accident Insurance
Our Sports Accident Insurance is designed to protect you whilst taking part in a water sport in the UK. The policy provides a range of benefits including personal liability and income protection.
Our claims record
HIGHEST PAID CLAIM
£174,984.64
FOR AN INSURANCE CLAIM**
AVERAGE PAY OUT
£1,295.07
FOR EACH INSURANCE CLAIM**
OUR AVERAGE CLAIMS RATING
4.9/5
ACCORDING TO OUR FEEFO SCORE***
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Why choose us
30 Years Experience
We have been providing tailored Sports Insurance policies for over 30 years, and today protect more than 57,000 customers a year.
Professional Claims Handling
We work with leading claims handlers to make sure our customers experience a prompt and professional service when making a claim.
Underwritten by Experts
We’re pleased to offer tailored cover from AXA XL, a leading provider of insurance in the sports and leisure industry.
UK Based Customer Service Team
Our highly experienced Sales team are available to help support you with any questions that you might have.
5-Star Customer Service Rating
Thousands of happy customers have awarded us a 5-star customer service score on the independent feedback platform, Feefo.
500+ Sports Covered
Being a specialist in Sports Insurance, we provide cover for over 500 different sports & activities, far more than other providers.
What is Water Sports Travel Insurance?
Our policies are designed to protect sports enthusiasts who are taking part in water sport activities within the UK and abroad. From scuba diving to wind surfing, simply select your specific water sport(s).
Our Sports Travel Insurance policy will cover you whilst participating in a water sport overseas, covering medical and repatriation costs, trip cancellation and curtailment, plus equipment cover.
If you’ve chosen to do a water sport in the UK and need personal accident, income protection or personal liability, our Sports Accident Insurance policy is better suited.
Get a quote and choose wisely before purchasing the right insurance policy for your activity.
What does our water sports policy cover?
What our policy will cover depends on whether you are doing the water sport in the UK or abroad…
If you require travel insurance for going abroad to take part in a water sport, then our policy will include emergency medical expenses and repatriation cover, cancellation and curtailment cover, sports equipment cover and much more.
Should you be taking part in a water sport within the UK and require personal liability or income protection, then our Sports Accident Insurance policy can provide this cover.
Discover the full extent of our cover
Or Call us on 01494 484800
Why you need water sports insurance?
Participating in water sports, especially in open water or remote coastal areas, carries more risk than standard travel due to unpredictable conditions, equipment demands, and the potential for accidents.
Remote locations: Water sports often take place far from immediate medical assistance, which can increase rescue costs and complexity. Emergency evacuations, especially from isolated coastal areas, can be costly.
Water-related risks: Activities like sailing, surfing, and kitesurfing expose participants to potential injuries from equipment, strong currents, and unpredictable weather, sometimes requiring urgent medical attention.
However experienced you are at water sports, things can go wrong so it’s worth being prepared to allow for greater confidence and security to enjoy your adventures.
What water sports are covered under our policy?
At SportsCover Direct, we can offer insurance for a whole range of water sports, including:
Swimming activities such as swimming in supervised pools & beaches, open water swimming and pool-based snorkelling.
Our insurance also covers basic water activities such as:
- Snorkelling in coastal waters
- Stand-up paddle boarding (calm waters)
- Surfing (excluding big wave surfing)
- Recreational rowing
- Basic canoeing (Grade 1-2 waters)
- Basic kayaking (Grade 1-2 waters)
We also offer insurance for more high-risk water sports – these activities may require an additional premium or special endorsement:
- Jet skiing
- Water skiing / Wakeboarding
- Banana boat rides
- River kayaking (Grade 3)
- Sea kayaking
- Kite surfing
- Scuba diving
- White water rafting (Grade 4-5)
- Canyoning
For any queries on what category your activity falls into you can get a quote or our customer support teams will be more than happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard travel insurance policies do not always cover hazardous sports. Our Sports Travel Insurance is specifically designed to cover over 500 high risk activities such as bungee jumping, skateboarding, ski-acrobatics and many more.
Our Sports Travel Insurance policy provides up to £5,600 worth of equipment cover. This add-on not only protects your own equipment, but also any equipment you hire during your trip. It also covers your water sports equipment in transit to and from your destination.
Yes, our Water Sports Insurance can generally be taken out even if you have a medical condition. We can almost always offer cover at no extra cost, but occasionally our underwriters may apply special terms if you subsequently needed to make a claim relating to your condition.
Our policies will cover anyone up to the age of 74 at the time of purchase. An applicant aged 75 or over cannot be covered.
Not always – most standard travel insurance policies provide only limited coverage for water sports activities, so you’ll need additional or specialist coverage for many water activities.
Scuba diving coverage requires specific certifications and adherence to safety protocols. Coverage includes:
- Requires valid certification.
- Has depth limits (typically 40 meters)
- Must be with licensed operators.
- Requires proper safety equipment.
- May have additional premium costs.
Yes – our water sports insurance policy excludes high-risk and professional activities, along with situations where safety protocols aren’t followed. Common exclusions include:
- Professional or competitive sports
- Activities performed against medical advice.
- Events where safety guidelines weren’t followed.
- Activities under the influence of alcohol/drugs
- Stolen equipment left unattended
- Commercial or instructional activities
For further details on exclusions and conditions, please read policy documentation with your quote.
Our equipment cover protects your gear against theft, loss, and damage, subject to policy limits and security requirements. This includes:
- Personal water sports equipment up to £5,600
- Hired equipment (if specified)
- Coverage for theft, loss, and damage
- Specific storage and security requirements apply.
Our comprehensive medical coverage is provided for emergencies and accidents related to covered water sports activities. This includes:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Medical evacuation and repatriation
- Emergency dental treatment
- 24/7 emergency assistance
* 10% online discount applies to our Sports Travel Insurance and Activity TopUp policies only.
** Data relates to all SportsCover Direct Insurance claims from Jan 2010 to Dec 2024 inclusive.
*** Feefo rating relates to all SportsCover Direct Insurance claims review score from Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 inclusive. Feefo score rounded up to 1 decimal place.
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