Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-06-19
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
Dive into the ocean’s wonders and discover its beauty, but remember, accidents can happen. Many opt for travel insurance for peace of mind, yet is it the best for medical coverage? Our Bowtie team dives deep into diving risks, what travel insurance really covers, and why voluntary health insurance might be your ultimate safeguard for upcoming adventures.
Which Insurances Cover Diving Medical Expenses?
Diving is a popular water activity that’s fun and exciting, but it does come with some risks. If an accident happens during diving, there are three types of insurance that can cover related medical and hospitalization expenses, including VHIS, travel insurance, and accident insurance. However, travel insurance and accident insurance might have more restrictions on compensations, so consumers should read the fine print carefully before buying.
| Insurance Type | Coverage Items |
| VHIS | Covers medical expenses due to injuries or illnesses that require hospitalization. |
| Travel Insurance | In addition to medical and accident coverage, it also includes items like property loss, trip delays, or early trip termination. |
| Accident Insurance | Covers expenses for hospitalization or treatment due to accidental injuries. |
What Injuries Can Diving Activities Cause?
While diving can bring a ton of fun, it’s smart to prepare properly before diving in—think training, warm-ups, and sticking to safety rules to avoid mishaps. Unfortunately, if an accident does occur during diving, it could lead to some serious injuries, such as:
- Decompression Illness: Rapid surfacing or skipping decompression stops can cause nitrogen bubbles in the body, affecting joints, the nervous system, and lungs, leading to pain, numbness, or even breathing problems.
- Ear and Sinus Barotrauma: Changes in water pressure can damage ears and sinuses, possibly causing nosebleeds , eardrum rupture, middle ear infection , or hearing loss.
- Air Embolism: Bubbles entering the bloodstream can trigger seizures, numbness, or paralysis—and in severe cases, coma or death.
- Outer Ear Infection: Prolonged water exposure might lead to an infection in the ear canal, resulting in outer ear infection.
- Hypoxia: If oxygen supply is low, divers could experience hypoxia, leading to loss of consciousness, impaired cognition, or even coma.
- Mental Health Issues: Panic or anxiety during diving might affect a diver’s psychological well-being later on.
Does Travel Insurance Always Cover Diving Activities?
Back in June 2023, the Consumer Council checked out 26 travel insurance products and found that most cover deep or scuba diving, but with depth limits between 30 to 45 meters. Still, it’s crucial to check how your policy defines “high-risk activities” and whether diving is included. Generally, insurers exclude professional sports or competitive diving, so only amateur or leisure diving typically qualifies for coverage.
Even if your travel insurance lists diving as covered, keep an eye out for specific conditions. For instance, some policies might exclude commercial or work-related diving, or require you to be accompanied by a qualified instructor—solo dives might not be covered, leaving you out of luck for claims.
So, if you’re planning to get travel insurance for diving, take the time to read the exclusions and exceptions to protect your interests.
Travel Insurance Medical Expenses and Hospital Cash Comparison
Here’s a look at medical expenses and hospital cash coverage from some insurers:
| Insurance Company | Medical Expenses Coverage | Overseas Hospital Cash Limit |
| F Company | $1,500,000 | $5,000 |
| Z Company | $1,500,000 | $5,000 |
| S Company | $1,500,000 | $5,000 |
| B Company | $1,200,000 | $12,000 |
| A Company | $1,000,000 | $5,000 |
Does Travel Insurance Cover Follow-Up Visits from Diving Accidents?
If you’re injured or fall ill during your trip and see a registered doctor abroad, most travel insurance will cover follow-up visits or continued treatment for the same condition once you’re back in Hong Kong. But remember, this only applies within a specified time frame after returning—go beyond that, and you’re on your own for costs.
Also, when shopping for travel insurance, note that companies often set different coverage limits for accident-related versus illness-related follow-ups, and there might be caps (like a percentage of the total medical coverage).
Using the insurers mentioned earlier, here’s a breakdown of their follow-up visit coverage and the time limit after returning:
| Insurance Company | Follow-Up Coverage for Accidents | Follow-Up Coverage for Illnesses | Follow-Up Limit After Return |
| F Company | $1,500,000 | $150,000 | Within 90 days |
| Z Company | $1,500,000 | $150,000 | Within 90 days |
| S Company | $750,000 | $75,000 | Within 90 days |
| B Company | $120,000 | $12,000 | Within 90 days |
| A Company | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | Within three months |
Does Accident Insurance Cover Scuba Diving?
Not every accident insurance policy covers scuba diving. In fact, some accident insurance products explicitly exclude dangerous activities and professional sports , such as skiing, scuba diving, skydiving, rock climbing, mountaineering (requiring ropes or guides), or riding/motorcycling.
Fewer Restrictions with VHIS
In contrast, VHIS has fewer compensation restrictions, at least unaffected by water depth or professional competitions . Plus, it offers worldwide coverage * , protecting you on every blue ocean adventure.
Not every travel insurance includes scuba diving activities. If you plan to go diving, it’s wise to review your health insurance to ensure it covers overseas medical expenses. Notably, Bowtie Pink provides worldwide coverage (for both emigration and travel) ^ !
^ Bowtie Pink VHIS Plan’s psychiatric treatment applies only in Hong Kong. Full reimbursement under Bowtie Pink does not apply to hospitals in the US or non-designated hospitals in China. Note that if the insured person emigrates, premiums may be adjusted based on the potential risks of the new region. For details, please call 3008 8123 to contact Bowtie customer service.
- * Coverage areas vary by health insurance provider; consumers should review the terms and conditions before purchasing and claiming.
Explore the Underwater World with Bowtie Pink
While many products cover medical expenses from scuba diving accidents, some travel insurance policies include specific requirements in their terms before covering diving activities. Additionally, travel insurance might have limits on follow-up consultation costs, so if long-term treatment is needed, it may not fully protect the insured.
On the other hand, VHIS not only addresses the limitations of travel insurance but also offers full reimbursement for high-end plans, providing long-term medical protection. As the saying goes, “You never know when you’ll become a world champion,” Bowtie Pink VHIS Plan comes with several key features to suit adventure seekers like you who love exploring mountains and seas, helping you fully enjoy nature’s wonders:
- Worldwide coverage ^ applicable
- Global Emergency Support Services
- Full reimbursement 1 for any hospital, any surgery
- Annual limit: Up to HK$20,000,000 (resets annually)
- No waiting period (except for pre-existing conditions unknown at the time of application )
- Monthly premium as low as HK$178 #
Scuba Diving Insurance: How Does Bowtie Pink Provide 24/7 Global Emergency Medical Support for Policyholders?
Bowtie Pink policyholders automatically receive global emergency support from our partner – International Assistance Ltd. (EAHK). If you’re traveling or on business abroad and encounter an emergency, simply call +852 2863 5767 to contact the 24-hour emergency assistance center and provide the following information to get help.
- Policyholder’s name
- Policyholder’s ID or passport number
- Policy number
- Current location and local contact phone number
- 1 Full compensation means there is no sub-item compensation limit and it only applies to specified coverage items. The payable compensation is subject to the deductible balance (if applicable), annual coverage limit, lifetime coverage limit, and other restrictions including reasonable and customary charges, pre-existing conditions, the list of designated hospitals in mainland China, and matters related to medical treatment in the US. For detailed product terms and conditions, product risks, and exclusions, please refer to the relevant product website and policy.
- ^ Excludes hospitals in the US and China not on the specified list; psychiatric treatment is limited to Hong Kong.
- # Based on the monthly premium for a 25-year-old non-smoker subscribing to Bowtie Pink (Ward) with a deductible option of HK$80,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does home insurance cover diving equipment?
Diving computer watches, buoyancy control devices, and other equipment can cost thousands of dollars. If you accidentally lose or damage items during the process, home insurance provides related coverage. However, before subscribing, carefully review the relevant terms, such as whether there is a deductible, if items are excluded, and the maximum item compensation amount and per item/set compensation limit.
What accidents might occur while diving?
While diving, incidents such as being attacked by marine life, sudden illness, or drowning due to equipment failure can happen. Therefore, it’s very important to get insurance to protect yourself.
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