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What you need to know
Travel insurance can cover surfacing related accidents and your equipment.
Travel insurance will only cover your surfing gear when in transport, not when in use.
You may need to pay extra to fully cover expensive surfing gear – most insurers have a $10,000 cap.
Who provides surf cover and how are you covered?
Brand
What is covered?
Conditions
Apply
Medical emergencies
Loss/damage personal luggage and items including surfboards
Cover for damaged or lost items only applies when in transport, not when in use.
No cover medically if you are under the influence of drugs and alcohol
No cover medically if you participate professionally or in a paid capacity
No cover for personal liability
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Got a quote before?
What are the risks of surfing on my travels?
Injury/illness
Surfing is only as risky as you make it and taking precautions can limit the risks considerably. Nevertheless, accidents do happen and some common risks include:
Serious reef cuts that require immediate medical attention
Minor reef cuts that can turn into serious infections
Emergency evacuation from remote areas following injuries
Serious spinal injuries
Dengue fever and malaria in some island chains
Infections from sea urchins
Shark attacks – you never know!
Equipment damage and loss
Damage: There is nothing worse than forking out serious cash for a new set of boards for a trip only to have them seriously damaged in transit or while on your trip away. A number of insurers will provide cover for damaged equipment though conditions will apply. You may be able to pay a little bit extra to have your board listed as a high-value item.
Theft: It's a sad fact that some of the best surf spots around the world are in locations that are also prone to theft of travelling tourists. South America, South Africa and some parts of Europe and Indonesia can at times have sketchy areas where the theft of gear is a threat. Travel insurance will cover you if your boards are stolen – just remember to get a police report (usually within 24 hours).
Am I covered for injuries like reef cuts?
A good comprehensive policy will cover you for medical emergencies, so if you wipe out on a coral reef and receive cuts that need medical treatment, you will be covered for the cost up to the benefit limit.
Yes, but not if you deliberately put yourself in danger
There is a condition in many policies that you must have been taking reasonable care at the time you were injured (i.e. paddling out at Pipe if you have only been surfing a few months). If the insurer can show you put yourself in harm's way, it may be able to reject your claim on the basis you did not take reasonable care to protect yourself.
What if the airline damages my board?
As with most luggage items, if your surfboard is damaged or lost while in the care of the airline, it will usually pay for damages, providing you report the incident as soon as possible. The amount of compensation will depend on the carrier, so if your surfboard is expensive, you would be wise to have travel insurance as well. In such circumstances, your insurer would pay you the difference between what the carrier reimburses you and what the board is insured for.
The best way to ensure your board is not damaged in transit is to buy a good-quality board bag and wrap your board securely in bubble wrap, protecting the nose and tail and removing the fins if possible.
How to select surfboard insurance
The government’s Smartraveller website lists 5 questions you should ask yourself when buying travel insurance, which are equally applicable to surf travel insurance.
Where are you surfing?
If the place you plan to surf is remote it would be wise to have emergency evacuation cover.
How long are you surfing for?
Is surfing only a part of your itinerary? If so, you may only need to purchase surf cover for that period.
What are you going to do there?
If you plan to do any other activities that might be considered risky, such as scuba diving or hang gliding you may need to take out additional cover.
Do you want to cover your boards?
If so, you may need to choose a higher benefit limit to cover its replacement cost.
Do you have any medical conditions?
If there any pre-existing conditions that you have you must declare them and purchase additional cover if provided, otherwise you won’t be covered.
Why you can trust Finder's travel insurance experts
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Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of travel insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2014, we've helped over one million people find travel insurance by explaining your options simply. We'll never ask for your number or email to see prices. We're here to help you make a decision.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Many travel insurance providers will cover surfing as standard. If travel insurance for surfing isn't included automatically, you should look at an adventure or sports pack.
Yes, but not if you deliberately put yourself in danger. As with coral cuts, cover for shark attack injuries would depend on whether you behaved in a reckless manner or not. If you deliberately surfed in waters known to be shark-infested, your insurer may consider this reckless behaviour and not cover you for your injuries.
Yes. A comprehensive policy should include emergency evacuation and repatriation. If you are injured in a surfing accident and the nearest hospital is only accessible by emergency airlift, then your insurance would cover the cost.
Jessica Prasida is a travel insurance expert for Finder. She lives and breathes travel, having worked as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel for over 4 years, then writing about travel insurance with Finder for another 5 years. Jess has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification.
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