Even experienced surfers aren’t immune to accidents and mishaps. You can never predict a wipeout, someone stealing your board or a natural disaster impacting your surfing holiday in Australia or overseas – this is where travel insurance comes in.
A comprehensive travel insurance policy may cover a range of water-based activities as standard or as an optional extra. Many insurance providers will cover surfing in their standard policies, although the level of travel insurance that covers surfing may differ between providers.
If travel insurance for surfing is not included in your standard cover, you may still be able to get cover through an adventure or water sports pack. Adding travel insurance for surfing as an optional extra to your policy may cost you more in premiums. However, it may be worth it for peace of mind, especially considering how expensive medical bills can be overseas.
You’ll also need to be aware of any restrictions on this cover. For instance, some providers may only cover you if you go less than two nautical miles out to sea.
It’s a good idea to insure every kind of trip, but perhaps even more so for surfing holidays since you run a higher risk of injury.
You need to consider whether you can afford to pay for medical treatment if you suffer an injury overseas, far from your country of residence, where medical bills could be much more expensive. Or if you can afford the cost of replacing your prized surfboard if it’s stolen from your hotel room.
Getting travel insurance for surfers could help provide you with financial protection when the unexpected happens.
Depending on your level of travel insurance, you can be covered for things like:
If you’re a backpacker travelling with your surfboard, you might be on a budget. In this case, a basic medical-only policy can cover you against medical mishaps, both on land and at sea, up to the limits of your policy.
Read the provider’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before purchasing to know the terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits, inclusions and exclusions of your policy.
Looking for inspiration for your next surf trip? Some of the best surfing hotspots include:
Knowing what’s excluded in your policy is just as important as knowing what you’re covered for. Some general exclusions you may find in your travel insurance policy for surfers can include:
You also won’t be covered for any incidents that happened before you took out cover.
Exclusions, restrictions and limits can vary between policies and providers, so always read the PDS before taking out cover.
Surfboards are often covered for theft and damage with travel insurance for surfers. Some providers may require you to specify your board as an item for cover or add an optional extra for sports equipment.
Furthermore, surfboards can usually be specified as a ‘high-value item’ (if your policy offers this option). You can sometimes get optional extras that provide additional cover for your board (e.g. cover to a higher limit than the standard policy).
There may be some limitations, such as providers not covering damages to your board while it was in use or general wear and tear. Be sure to check your PDS to find out.
Generally, any damage or loss you cause to your rented surfboard won’t be covered by your travel insurance policy for surfers. However, any injuries you sustain while riding a rented surfboard may still be covered.
The first thing you should do after an incident is call emergency services or similar relevant authorities, or contact your provider’s emergency assistance team (if available).
You can typically submit your claim and supporting documentation through your provider’s website, via email, through the post or by phone. Check whether your provider has a time limit on the claim period (e.g. no later than 30 days after your return to Australia).
Learn more about how to make a travel insurance claim here.
A basic or comprehensive travel insurance policy may cover a number of water activities as standard, including surfing, snorkelling and water polo. Riskier activities such as jet skiing, wakeboarding and tubing may require you to purchase an adventure sports add-on to be covered.
Covered sports and activities vary between providers and policies. Read the PDS of a policy before purchasing to ensure you’re covered for the activities in your itinerary.
If travel insurance for surfers is something you haven’t checked off on your packing list, compare your options today. It’s a great way to see what’s available and search for the right option for you.
Our travel insurance comparison service is a fast and easy way to compare the prices and features of a range of policies. Simply enter in a few details about your trip and away you go!
