With the Earth covered in so much water across oceans, lakes and rivers there’s plenty of opportunity to have some serious adventures on your travel. Whether you’re planning on surfing in Bali, rafting on the Colorado River or sailing the Mediterranean, World Nomads travel insurance can help you and your family if the unexpected happens.

• What does World Nomads travel insurance cover?
• Why should I consider travel insurance when doing a water sports activity?
• What’s covered by travel insurance for water activities and sports?
• What's not covered
• Key tips for water activities and sports

What does World Nomads travel insurance cover?

World Nomads may offer cover for the following (up to the policy limits):

• Emergency medical and evacuation coverage – if you or a member of your family suffers an injury or accident whilst participating in a covered water sports activity.
• Baggage and high value items cover – if your baggage or items are stolen, lost or damaged you may be covered, including if your bags are delayed.
• Cover for Coronavirus-related events – our policies offer medical coverage if you or your family are diagnosed with Coronavirus. You may also be covered for Coronavirus-related travel costs such as quarantine and trip cancellation, depending on which policy you choose.
• Coverage for extended stays – your plan can be extended while still travelling for up to 12 months from your departure date (terms and conditions apply).

Why should I consider travel insurance when doing a water sports activity?

Before you head off on your adventure it might be worth considering how travel insurance can ensure that your holiday dreams don’t turn into a nightmare.

Our policies can help with medical costs and evacuation if you suffer an injury while sailing the Galapagos Islands and need to seek medical treatment. Having travel insurance can even help if your diving trip to the Great Blue Hole in Belize by is cancelled by the tour provider due to an insured event and you’re left out of pocket.

Our policies cover a wide range of water sports activities, so don’t leave your aquatic adventure up to chance.

Travel insurance tip: if you’ve already arrived at your overseas holiday destination and forgot to buy travel insurance before leaving New Zealand, don’t panic. You can visit the World Nomads website at any time of the day or night to purchase a policy.

What's covered by travel insurance for water activities and sports?

We want you to have the best experience on your travels, so we’ve designed our plans to cover the water sports that our nomads love the most including:

• Dragon boating
• Jet Skiing
• Wakeboarding
• Kiteboarding
• Windsurfing
• Boating (inland and coastal waters)
• Parasailing
• Kayaking
• Snorkelling
• Stand-up paddleboarding.

We can even offer cover for experiences that really push the limits including:

• Outdoor endurance, multi-sport and triathlon events (less than ultra-distance)
• Shark cage diving
• Cavern diving (qualified to 40 metres).

World Nomads offers two plans – Standard and Explorer. Each policy provides different levels of coverage depending on what you need:

• The Standard Plan covers a range of benefits and certain adventure activities and has lower coverage limits.
• The Explorer Plan covers all the benefits of the Standard plan, with larger coverage limits, more benefits and covers more sports and activities.
• Both the Standard and Explorer plans offer cover for nominated low-risk water sports under “Level 1” cover. If you plan to participate in higher-risk water sports, as listed in section 8 of the Policy Document, you may need to upgrade your Standard or Explorer plan to “level 2” or “level 3” cover depending on which water sports activities you plan on participating in. 

Depending on the level of cover you choose, our policies may cover you for the following when participating in water sports activities:

• Medical emergency: if you suffer an accident on injury whilst participating in a water sports activity, you may be covered for medical expenses incurred including evacuation and even repatriation if you need to return home.
• Trip cancellation: if any part your trip is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances you may be covered for expenses incurred as a result of the cancellation.
• Cover for stolen baggage and gear: if your gear is lost, stolen or damaged on your trip you may be able to claim to have your gear replaced or repaired.
• Natural disaster: If a natural disaster impacts your planned water sports adventure our policies may cover you if you need to cancel or interrupt your travel plans.

What's not covered?

While there are several circumstances we can offer coverage for, there are also those we just won’t cover. These include, but are not limited to:

• Damage to any sporting equipment while in use, sporting equipment over 3 years old or damage to or theft of any water sports equipment that are left unsupervised in a public place.
• If you travel against medical advice or neglect to adhere to New Zealand Government ‘Do Not Travel’ warnings issued prior to departure. Find out more at Safe Travel NZ.
• A loss arising from participating in or training for a competition or race where you receive a financial reward (i.e., an appearance fee, a wage or salary).
• Any adventure activities or sports that aren’t covered by our policies.
• Any pre-existing medical conditions.
• Any costs related to illegal activities or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Tips for your water activity and sports sports trip

• Keep your receipts and paperwork:any claim you make will need supporting documentation such as receipts of your purchases. Keep these with you in printed or digital form if you intend to make a claim.
• It pays to be prepared:check the weather, check your equipment, and check the credentials of your instructors and guides – if any seem unreliable then reconsider if it’s a smart move to go.
• Don’t get in over your head:be responsible when choosing a water sports activity. Does it suit your experience level? Are you using an accredited tour operator? Make sure to wear appropriate safety gear.

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Document in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

The information provided is of a general nature and is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form and should not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining professional advice that is specific to your circumstances. You should seek advice from a financial advice provider if you would like further information about whether a particular product is appropriate for you and your circumstances.

Water, water everywhere! Whether you’re planning to set sail on your holiday, scuba dive the world’s great reefs, or you’re going to bounce down a canyon on a white-water adventure, World Nomads travel insurance can help you and your family if the unexpected happens.

• What does World Nomads travel insurance cover?
• Why should I consider travel insurance when doing a water sports activity
• What’s covered by water sports activity insurance?
• What's not covered
• Tips for your water activity and sports trip

What does World Nomads travel insurance cover?

Some of the key benefits that you may be covered for (up to the befit limits) include:

• Emergency medical and evacuation coverage – if you or a member of your family suffers an injury or accident whilst participating in a covered water sports activity.
• Baggage and high-value items cover – if your baggage or items are stolen, lost or damaged you may be covered, including if your bags are delayed.
• Cover for Coronavirus-related events – our policies offer medical coverage if you or your family are diagnosed with Coronavirus. You may also be covered for Coronavirus-related travel costs such as quarantine and trip cancellation, depending on which policy you choose.
• Coverage for extended stays – Your plan can be extended while still travelling for up to 12 months from your departure date (terms and conditions apply).

Why should I consider travel insurance when doing a water sports activity?

Before you head off on your adventure it might be worth considering how travel insurance can ensure that your holiday dreams don’t turn into a nightmare.

Our policies can help with medical costs and evacuation if you suffer an injury while sailing in the Greek Islands and need to seek medical treatment. Travel insurance can also help if your surfboard is damaged while on your way to your surfing adventure in Hawaii.

Having travel insurance can even help if your diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef by is cancelled due to an insured event by the tour provider and you’re left out of pocket.

Our policies cover a wide range of water sports activities, so don’t leave your aquatic adventure up to chance.

What’s covered by water sports activity insurance?

We want you to have the best experience on your travels, so we’ve designed our plans to cover the water sports that our nomads love the most including: 

• Dragon boating
• Jet Skiing
• Kayaking
• Snorkelling
• Scuba diving (qualified to 40 metres)
• Surfing
• Stand-up paddleboarding.

We can even offer cover for experiences that really push the limits including:

• Outdoor endurance, multi-sport and triathlon events (less than ultra-distance)
• Shark cage diving
• Cavern diving (qualified to 40 metres).

World Nomads offers two plans – Standard and Explorer. Each policy provides different levels of coverage depending on what you need:

• The Standard Plan covers a range of benefits and certain adventure activities and has lower coverage limits.
• The Explorer Plan covers all the benefits of the Standard plan, with larger coverage limits, more benefits and covers more sports and activities.
• Both the Standard and Explorer plans offer cover for nominated low-risk water sports under “Level 1” cover. If you plan to participate in higher-risk water sports, as listed in section 8 of the PDS, you may need to upgrade your Standard or Explorer plan to “level 2” or “level 3” cover depending on which water sports activities you plan on participating in.

Depending on the level of cover you choose, our policies may cover you for the following when participating in water sports activities:

• Medical emergency: if you suffer an accident on injury whilst participating in a water sports activity, you are covered for medical expenses incurred including evacuation and even repatriation if you need to return home.
• Trip cancellation: if any part your trip is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances you may be covered for expenses incurred as a result of the cancellation.
• Cover for stolen baggage and gear: if your gear is lost, stolen or damaged on your trip you may be able to claim to have your gear replaced or repaired.
• Natural disaster: If a natural disaster impacts your planned water sports adventure our policies may cover you if you need to cancel or interrupt your travel plans.

What's not covered?

While there are several circumstances we can offer coverage for, there are also those we just won’t cover. These include, but are not limited to:

• Damage to any sporting equipment while in use, sporting equipment over 3 years old or damage to or theft of any water sports equipment that are left unsupervised in a public place.
• If you travel against medical advice or neglect to adhere to Australian Government ‘Do Not Travel’ warnings issued prior to departure. Find out more at Smartraveller.
• A loss arising from participating in or training for a competition or race where you receive a financial reward (i.e., an appearance fee, a wage or salary).
• Any adventure activities or sports that aren’t covered by our policies.
• Any pre-existing medical conditions.
• Any costs related to illegal activities or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Tips for your water activity and sports trip

• Keep your receipts and paperwork:any claim you make will need supporting documentation such as receipts of your purchases. Keep these with you in printed or digital form if you intend to make a claim.
• It pays to be prepared:check the weather, check your equipment, and check the credentials of your instructors and guides – if any seem unreliable then reconsider if it’s a smart move to go.
• Don’t get in over your head:be responsible when choosing a water sports activity. Does it suit your experience level? Are you using an accredited tour operator? Make sure to wear appropriate safety gear.

This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your PDS in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

For lovers of cycling, traveling through a city or a whole region on two wheels can be an eye-opening experience. It can help you get in shape, it’s the environmentally-friendly option, and you get to make as many pit stops to rest and explore as you want.

But with all the positives of cycling, there’s also the chance that you could get caught up in an accident and end up with a sprained ankle, a broken arm, or even worse end up in hospital due to a major accident. That’s why you should consider travel insurance if you need to cover your tracks.

• How you may benefit from World Nomads travel insurance cover
• What’s covered for cycling?
• Know where you’re going and what to do if the unexpected happens
• What's not covered

How you may benefit from World Nomads travel insurance cover

When choosing World Nomads products, you’ll have access to two simple and flexible plans – Standard and Explorer. We offer cover (up to the policy limits) for:

• Baggage protection: had your stuff stolen while cycling? Our gear coverage may help with replacing belongings that were swiped.
• Emergency overseas medical: cycling through the Alps and taking in the fresh air can be great for the body and the mind, but not if it ends up in a bad injury. Emergency medical coverage will come in handy in the case of an accident, illness or injury.
• Evacuation: your cycling route may be far away from medical facilities. With our cover, you can get transported to the medical facility best for your care, subject to approval from World Nomads. Note, there is no cover for search and rescue expenses.
• Trip cancellation: has a sick or injured traveling companion put a stop to your cycling trip in New Zealand? Depending on your plan you may be able to recover your unused, prepaid travel expenses.
• 24-hour emergency assistance: if you find yourself in need of urgent medical help, it’s not always easy to find help. World Nomads provides 24-hour Emergency Assistance. Our staff can assist you all the way from needing directions to a medical facility, helping with multi-lingual services, to urgent medical evacuation if you’ve suffered an injury or fall ill.
• Coverage for some Coronavirus (COVID-19) related events: to find out more, including benefit limits and exclusions, read our What's covered for Coronavirus article

What’s covered for cycling?

Under both of World Nomads plans – Standard and Explorer – you may be automatically covered under the Standard Plan, or you’ll need to upgrade to the Explorer Plan depending on the type of cycling activity you’re doing. Depending on your country of residence and the plan you’ve selected, you could be covered for the following cycling activities:

1. Cycling (incidental to the trip): automatically covered - level 1 activity
2. Cycling (on an organised tour): automatically covered - Level 1 activity
3. Cycling (independent cycle touring): upgrade to Explorer plan - level 2 activity
4. Cycling (up to 4,500 meters – all styles including touring and organised tours): automatically covered - Level 1 activity. Policy excludes Yungas Road/Death Road. Special Exclusion (v)
5. Cycling (up to 6,000 meters – all styles including touring and organised tours): upgrade to Explorer plan - level 2 activity. Policy excludes Yungas Road/Death Road. Special Exclusion (v)
6. Cycling over 6,000 metres in elevation: Not covered.

Note: all our plans are different and may require an upgrade to include cycling at certain altitude. In some instances, you must be with a professional, qualified and licensed cycling guide, instructor or operator. Terms and conditions, limits and exclusions, apply. Read your policy wording carefully to choose the right plan and cycling option for your trip.

For more information on cycling and mountain biking coverage check out our Help Centre article, ‘Am I covered if I'm cycling or mountain biking?’ in the Help Centre which explains what you need to know to be adequately covered. Choose your country of residence and you’ll access the most up to date information.

A couple riding bikes in New York City. Photo credit: Getty Images/Cavan Images

Know where you’re going and what to do if the unexpected happens

Before you hit the road with your bike, helmet and gear, it pays to arm yourself with these cycling tips for a safer trip:

• Include all countries you’re visiting or traveling through on your policy: as well as all the adventure activities you’re planning to do or participate in. With World Nomads you’ll have a choice of more than 200 activities, sports and experiences to choose from.
• Check you have all your paperwork: you’ll need to have all the appropriate paperwork, these may include any required vaccinations, visitor permits if you plan to visit any national parks, and special tourist visas for the countries you’ll be visiting,
• Be responsible when choosing a cycling destination or activity: does the cycling tour your planning suit your experience level? Are there any travel or weather alerts for your destination? Have you got a ‘fit for travel’ thumbs up from your doctor to take on the mountains and specific altitudes? Do you need to use an accredited tour provider or operator? Can our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team reach you if you get into trouble?
• Wear a helmet and visible clothing: this should be a no brainer, but it’s still worth mentioning, as in many countries around the world, the locals don’t wear helmets when cycling. Another no brainer is if you’re planning to ride at night, you should have high vis clothing on yourself, your bike, or both to make sure other riders and vehicles see you.
• Proof of purchase: remember that any claim you make will need supporting documentation such as receipts of your purchases. Keep these with you in printed or digital form if you intend to make a claim.

Travel insurance tip: World Nomads provides travel insurance for more than 200 activities, sports and experiences. While this list might seem exhaustive, it doesn’t cover everything. That’s why you shouldn’t take for granted that your preferred activities will be covered. You can’t upgrade your level of cover mid-way through your holiday, so do consider this wisely.

What's not covered?

Some things we may not cover include:

• If you refuse to be repatriated or evacuated
• If you don’t follow your doctor’s instructions or what we or the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team advise you to do
• Damage to any sporting equipment while in use; loss, damage or theft of any sporting equipment left unattended. Please note that depending on your country of residence and the plan you’ve selected you may not be covered for bicycles and bicycle accessories.
• Any pre-existing medical condition(s) as explained in the policy wording
• Expenses that can be recovered from another source, e.g., transport carriers or accommodation providers
• Unattended baggage or personal items
• Participating or training in activity or sport at a professional level
• Any search or rescue operations as explained in the policy wording
• Misuse or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Fraudulent or criminal acts.

This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.