Trip To Disney - Is it Important to Get Travel Insurance For Your Next Diving Holiday?

Chances are you are depriving the local population of a scarce but valuable resource. Drugs may be of poor quality or past their expiry dates. Are in short supply, such as oxygen kits, equipment and supplies are scarce and essential items, local health standards are poor, in some poor countries. Medical facilities and resources are limited and emergency medical services are practically nonexistent, in developing countries.

If you require intravenous re-hydration then this may be yet another source of infection. HIV or malaria, a transfusion runs the risk of contracting hepatitis. Blood is a scarce resource in developing countries and is not screened as carefully as it is in more developed nations. Having no travel insurance means treatment at the local public hospital. You will almost certainly require a blood transfusion, if you're injured extensively in a car accident while travelling.

For example: the unfortunate and unexpected sinking of Kingcruiser which is now a famous wreck dive - accidents happen! If required, insurance also pays for medical evacuation. Having insurance enables you to access these facilities and without it you rely on personal payment. These facilities often help local communities; indeed, these facilities are funded externally and do not impinge on the local economy or its resources. Some countries such as Thailand have private medical facilities.

It can be very time consuming to obtain your policy details when you should be in the operating theatre! You never know when you might need it. Insure yourself adequately before travelling and always carry your insurance details on you. But don't deprive its people of a scarce resource by imposing on what is often an under-resourced health system, sounds and culture of that nation, when travelling and diving in developing countries please enjoy the sites.

Be responsible and use some foresight. Particularly when such a scenario can be avoided by buying appropriate medical insurance, using a valuable limited resource in a country that struggles to supply its own people is wrong.

General Travel Insurance:

Don't over insure - don't take out 2 policies covering the same thing - no doubt you'll be left waiting while the insurance companies squabble over who's liable for your costs. Read the small print. You can't expect local operators to be liable for your cancellation just because of your country's decision to issue travel advisory warnings against every Muslim country and their neighbours. Don't forget to cover yourself for your trip cancellation. Define your needs and then define what each policy covers and what it does not cover. Seek advice before you leave. Not all travel insurance is appropriate for your needs.

Dive Travel Insurance:

Which may not be in your best interest particularly if you are diving and travelling to several destinations, some insurance programmes only cover treatment at a local facility.

The program covers all in-water injuries incurred while diving or snorkelling and any diver can apply. The programmes are available worldwide and provide extensive medical protection from ear injuries and decompression illness to motorbike or taxi accidents. There are several packages available depending on your needs that can include general travel insurance too. The Divers Alert Network insurance programme provides you with broad and comprehensive coverage.

With World Nomads you can get low cost holiday insurance that covers you for both your diving and travel needs.