At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we help scuba divers secure affordable, high-quality life insurance—even when other agents or direct carriers struggle to place coverage. Scuba diving is frequently misunderstood in life insurance underwriting, and many divers are quoted higher rates than necessary simply because their application is submitted to the wrong carrier or framed incorrectly.

As an independent brokerage with access to more than 100 A-rated insurance companies, we specialize in high-risk and specialty underwriting. That includes scuba diving, along with many other activities insurers consider outside the norm. Our role is not just to find coverage, but to identify which carriers evaluate diving risk fairly and how to present your diving profile so it reflects training, safety, and real-world risk—not assumptions.

Whether you dive recreationally on vacation, instruct professionally, or participate in more advanced technical dives, the right underwriting strategy can make a meaningful difference in both approval and pricing.

Why Scuba Diving Is Considered a Higher-Risk Avocation

Life insurance companies classify scuba diving as an avocation rather than an occupation, but that classification still triggers additional underwriting review. From an insurer’s perspective, diving introduces environmental risk, equipment dependence, and exposure to depth and pressure changes that do not exist in everyday activities.

That said, underwriting is not binary. Diving is not automatically “good” or “bad.” Instead, insurers evaluate how you dive, how often you dive, and how well you manage risk. A recreational diver who stays within standard depth limits and dives a few times per year is viewed very differently than someone engaged in deep, technical, or commercial diving.

This distinction is critical. Many divers receive higher-than-necessary quotes simply because the nuances of their diving activity were not properly explained during underwriting.

The Diving Details Underwriters Actually Care About

When a life insurance underwriter evaluates a scuba diver, the goal is to understand your real-world risk profile. One of the first factors reviewed is depth. Recreational dives under 100 feet are typically assessed more favorably than deeper dives, particularly those involving staged decompression.

Frequency also matters. Divers who log a handful of dives per year—often during vacations—are generally viewed as lower risk than individuals who dive weekly or year-round. Consistency and moderation often work in your favor.

The type of diving you participate in carries significant weight as well. Open-water reef or shore diving is usually considered lower risk than cave, wreck, night, or mixed-gas diving. These distinctions directly influence whether a policy is issued at standard rates, with a table rating, or with a flat extra.

Certification and training provide important context. Divers with recognized certifications, documented continuing education, and logged dives demonstrate discipline and risk awareness. Insurers view this favorably, particularly when compared to uncertified or minimally trained divers.

Medical history is also reviewed closely. Insurers want to see overall fitness to dive, no history of decompression sickness, and no unresolved respiratory or cardiovascular conditions that could increase risk underwater.

How Scuba Diving Compares to Other High-Risk Activities

From an underwriting standpoint, scuba diving is often assessed alongside other higher-risk avocations. However, it is frequently less restrictive than activities such as race car driving or skydiving, particularly for recreational participants.

In many cases, recreational scuba divers receive more favorable treatment than applicants involved in aviation, mountaineering, or competitive motorsports. The key difference lies in training standards and risk mitigation, which scuba diving emphasizes heavily.

This is why carrier selection matters so much. Some insurers apply conservative blanket rules, while others assess scuba diving with far more nuance.

What Life Insurance Outcomes Scuba Divers Typically See

Recreational divers who stay within standard limits often qualify for standard or even preferred underwriting classifications, depending on overall health. These policies may be issued without any additional costs related to diving.

Divers who go deeper, dive more frequently, or participate in more advanced forms of diving may see modest table ratings or flat extras. While these increase premiums, they are often far less severe when the application is submitted to a carrier with diver-friendly guidelines.

Even technical divers are not automatically uninsurable. Coverage is often still available, though it may require careful underwriting and realistic expectations regarding pricing.

Why Working With Diversified Insurance Brokers Matters

Most scuba diving underwriting problems stem from poor carrier selection or incomplete risk presentation. At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we pre-evaluate your diving activity before submitting an application, helping avoid unnecessary declines or inflated pricing.

We understand which insurers are favorable toward scuba diving and which tend to overprice it. We also know how to document your certifications, training, and safety practices in a way underwriters respect.

This approach is similar to how we assist clients involved in other specialized risks, including high-risk occupations and avocations, where experience and carrier access matter more than generic quoting tools.

Real-World Scuba Diving Case Example

A 42-year-old recreational diver averaging 10 to 12 dives per year at depths under 80 feet was initially quoted with a 50% premium increase through a direct-to-consumer carrier. The insurer applied a broad assumption without fully considering his certification level, dive profile, or medical fitness.

After repositioning his application with a carrier that evaluates recreational diving more precisely, we secured a $500,000 20-year term policy at Standard Plus rates. The result was a savings of more than $600 per year compared to the original offer.

If you scuba dive and want life insurance that reflects your actual risk—not generic assumptions—the right underwriting strategy makes all the difference.