I thought I was covered for “surfing” until I tore my rotator cuff at Playa Hermosa. The claim denial stated that because I was surfing a “reef break” and the waves were “classified as advanced,” my standard activity coverage didn’t apply. I’m staring at a $12,000 surgery bill in San José.
Key Takeaways
- The “Professional” Exclusion: Most policies exclude any sport where you are “racing,” “professional,” or—crucially—participating in an activity that requires “specialized gear or advanced skills” not covered by the base plan.
- Depth and Height Limits: Scuba is usually limited to 18-30 meters. Trekking is capped at 3,000-4,500 meters. If you go higher/deeper, you are uninsured.
- Organized Sports: If you join a local rugby league or a BJJ tournament, that is “Organized Athletics,” which is almost always excluded from travel insurance.
- Adventure Riders: You usually need to pay an extra
10−10−50/month to “unlock” Class 2 or Class 3 sports (like kite surfing, heli-skiing, or downhill mountain biking).
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Implicit Danger.”
Insurers divide sports into risk tiers.
- Tier 1 (Covered): Jogging, snorkeling, gym.
- Tier 2 (Upgrade): Skiing (on piste), surfing (recreational), hiking.
- Tier 3 (Excluded/High Premium): Skydiving, cliff jumping, combat sports.
The trap is assuming Surfing is Tier 1. In many budget policies, it’s Tier 2 or excluded if “waves exceed X feet” or if it’s “big wave surfing.”
The Investigation: I Called Them
- World Nomads: The “Explorer” plan covers almost everything (shark cage diving, hang gliding). The “Standard” plan excludes the fun stuff. You must buy the Explorer plan for Costa Rica trips.
- SafetyWing: Covers “recreational” sports. I asked about “Downhill Mountain Biking.” They said NO. It must be “recreational cycling.” If you are on a specific downhill track wearing armor, that’s excluded.
- Spot Injury Insurance: A niche competitor. They cover only injuries from accidents (drops, crashes). They paid out for a friend’s broken ankle from bouldering when his travel insurance denied it as “hazardous.”
Comparison Table: Adventure Coverage
| Feature | World Nomads (Standard) | World Nomads (Explorer) | SafetyWing |
| Surfing | YES | YES | YES |
| Scuba (Open Water) | YES (to 30m) | YES (to 50m) | YES (to 30m) |
| Motorbiking | NO (Unless licensed) | NO (Unless licensed) | NO (Unless licensed) |
| Paragliding | NO | YES | NO |
| Cost | | | $ |
[IMAGE: Photo of a surfer on a large wave with a text overlay: ‘Covered?’ and a checkbox marked ‘No (Extreme conditions)’]
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Check the “Sports List”: Every policy has a PDF listing covered sports. Control+F your sport. If it’s not there, email them. If they say “it’s covered,” save that email.
- Buy the Upgrade: If you are skiing or diving, pay the extra premium. Do not cheap out. The medevac from a ski slope is $20,000.
- Get Certified: If you dive, you MUST have your PADI card. If you dive deeper than your cert allows (e.g., going to 30m on an Open Water cert), coverage is void.
- Helmets: Always wear safety gear. If you climb without a helmet or kayak without a vest, they can deny for negligence.
FAQ
Is “Scooter” an adventure sport?
No, it’s a vehicle. See the license rules in the previous article.
Does insurance cover my broken surfboard?
World Nomads Explorer might cover “Sporting Equipment” damage while in transit, but usually not while in use. If you snap it on a wave, you pay.
What about Muay Thai training in Thailand?
Training (hitting pads) is usually covered as “Gym.” Fighting in the ring? Excluded.