Our Best Adventure Travel Insurance Plans For Open Water Swimming
Why Open Water Swimming Insurance?
Play Safer. Play Smarter.
Swimming in open water has become increasingly popular since it became an Olympic event in 2008. People all over the world take to the outdoors in a lake, ocean or other body of water. In addition to swimming in their own space and at their own pace, open water swimmers feel a great sense of achievement. They can see the distance they are swimming and it’s a greater challenge than the controlled environment of a pool. Adjusting to the cold temperatures of open water is both a physical and mental challenge, since the heat loss from skin can be up to 70 times greater than air of equal temperature.
Open water swimming is a relaxing yet exhilarating experience that offers many health benefits. For instance, scientists have proven that being immersed in cold water three times a week increases your white blood counts, which boosts your immune system. It’s also great for weight loss, since you burn about 200 more calories per hour in cold water than in warm water.
While open water swimming can certainly be enjoyed wherever there is open water, there are some fantastic organized swims all over the world. Here are some very popular swims:
- Big Swim: Palm Beach to Whale Beach, Australia - the Pittwater Ocean Swim Series – around 2,000 competitors.
- Lake Okataina Open Water Swim, New Zealand - the five distances, 200m, 800m, 1.5km and 3km, take place in peaceful, tree-lined waters.
- Chia Sport Week, Sardinia - Three distances: 1.9km, 3.8km and 5km.
- The Castle Swim Series: Lough Cutra Castle, Ireland - a 5km, 2.5km and 1 mile swim.
- El Cruce, Mexico - final event in Global Swim Series Championship Races, knockout coastal views.
- Island 2 Island 2 Way Swim, Scotland - 3.8km and 1.9 km races.
- Flowers Sea Swim, Cayman Islands - Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach – expect over 1,000 people.
- Green Island Swim, Honduras - exotic scenery, calm conditions and a friendly welcome, three distances - 800m, 2.5km and 5km.
- Ullswater Epic Lake Swim, England - 500m, 1 mile or 3.8km distances in the shadow of England's third-highest mountain, Helvellyn.
- Swim the Arctic Circle, Sweden - from Finland to Sweden across the Torne River under the glow of the midnight sun.
- San Clemente Ocean Festival - running annually for over 40 years, one-mile swim race.
- Waikiki Rough Water Swim, Hawaii - 50th year of Waikiki’s 3.8km ocean swim.
- St Croix Coral Reef Swim, British Virgin Islands - three races - 1 mile, 2 mile and 5 mile, gaze at the live coral.
Megan loves to combine open water swims with her vacations. She has participated in organized open water swims for the past ten years, mostly in the Caribbean. Last year Megan had one of her favorite open water swim vacations in Australia and New Zealand. She met several new friends there and hopes to return next year.
Although it’s an exhilarating experience, open water swimming carries more risks than swimming in a pool. Probably the greatest risk has to do with water temperature, as swimming in cold water can lead to hypothermia or cold shock, which can be very serious. Water temperature can also be too warm and can lead to hyperthermia, which is an equally serious situation. Another risk factor is the unpredictability of the body of water, as open water generally has limited visibility, currents or tides, and uncertain depth and drop-offs. It’s hard to perceive distance from the shore as well.
That’s why Megan came to Good Neighbor- to protect herself in the event of a swimming illness or accident.
Bacteria is another risk related to open water swimming. According to a report from the CDC, untreated recreational waters were connected to 140 disease outbreaks that caused around 5,000 illnesses between 2000 and 2014. Another recent report from Environment America found that 2,600 of about 4,500 U.S. beach sites analyzed clocked bacteria levels above EPA thresholds for safe swimming on at least one day of 2018. The EPA estimates that when people swim in such waters, 32 out of every 1,000 are likely to get sick.
Open water swimming insurance plans can protect you in the event of illness or accident. In addition to ensuring you have proper medical coverage, good open water swimming insurance plans offer medical evacuation and other specialized care that may be needed when you are swimming.
Megan’s sister has a friend who once became critically ill from a bacterial disease from swimming in open water. Her friend wasn’t covered by medical insurance at the time and his lengthy illness was financially devastating. So Megan always buys a good open water swimming insurance policy before she leaves for vacation.
Megan was insured when she received treatment for hypothermia a few years ago and didn’t suffer unnecessary financial loss. Be like Megan and protect yourself with an open water swimming insurance plan today. Get started by selecting one of the featured plans below or by getting a quote now.
Play Safer. Play Smarter. Insurance plans to fit your adventure.
Featured Open Water Swimming Insurance Plans
We've got the right plan for you, whether you're swimming in Australia or the UK. Simply click "Get Quote" or "Buy Online" to get started with your customized trekking insurance plan.
GU Diplomat Travel with Adventure Sports Rider
- Covers most adventure sports/extreme sports, plus a great general adventure travel insurance plan
- For those traveling from 5 days up to 12 months
- Your choice – $0 deductible up to $5,000 deductible
- Up to $1,000,000 medical coverage
- Medical Evacuation up to $500,000
- Enhanced Accidental Death Benefit available up to $1,000,000
- Select the Athletic Sports & Hazardous Activity Rider for the level appropriate for your sport
Trawick SafeTrekker Adventure Sports Insurance
- $100,000 of medical coverage per person per period of coverage
- $0 deductible
- Search and rescue up to $10,000
- Includes trip cancellation coverage
- Up to $1,000,000 Medical/Emergency evacuation included
- Up to age 65 – choose from 10 to 90 days
- Loss of sports equipment to $3000 ($300 per item)
BUPA Short Term Travel Insurance with Adventure Sports Coverage
- Great Plan for non-US residents traveling internationally doing adventure sports.
- Travel insurance policy coverage per day up to 12 months and longer
- Unlimited medical and evacuation coverage – No deductible and No co-insurance
- Most sports and occupations are covered even when done professionally
- Additional non-medical option and trip cancellation option also if desired
- 100% coverage for emergency treatment and medical evacuation
- Direct payment of all hospital bills all over the world
Good Neighbor Insurance is committed to protecting people whether they’re swimming in the Caribbean or climbing Mount Everest. With Good Neighbor Insurance you’re not just getting an insurance plan, you’re getting peace of mind with a neighbor on your side at work protecting you. Even when you buy online, dedicated expert insurance agents will track your policy to make sure you’re getting exactly what you need when you swim, no matter where you go or what you plan to do.
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Other Adventure Sports Insurance Plans
MedJet Emergency Evacuation Plan- Short Term
- 8 days of travel up to 30 days – No additional for adventure sports! (included)
- No health questions, deductibles or claim forms are required
- Air medical transport services only require that you be hospitalized as an inpatient and need hospitalization upon reaching your destination (medevac).
- No dollar limit.
- You can have the extra benefits of the Medjet Evacuation plan or buy one of our overseas trip insurance plans that cover international medical insurance.
- This plan is “evacuation-only” (medical transportation including air and land transport), not medical or travel insurance. (All of our adventure sports travel insurance plans include emergency evacuation as a benefit.) Please make sure your sport is covered in a medical emergency and that you have adequate medical insurance before purchasing a stand-alone medical transportation-only plan.
Trawick Safe Travels Team Sports Insurance
- Covers most sports (see below) and is an affordable international sports event insurance plan when traveling
- Covers you from 5 days up to one year with an option to renew for another year (you choose the amount of time)
- Up to $1,000,000 US dollars of medical coverage that includes medical evacuation and medical transportation coverage
- Saves non-U.S. citizens money by excluding the U.S.A. if they are not traveling to the US
- Such as an Indonesian traveling to Singapore
- Such as an Australian traveling to Hong Kong
- Such as a U.S. citizen that lives in Singapore traveling to Australia
- See more medical benefit details below!
- Professional sports are not covered
- Racing of any kind is excluded
