Votre assurance plongee,
sans mauvaises surprises

When traveling with underwater photography gear, the question is never whether you need insurance. The question is how many layers of protection to stack without creating coverage gaps.

The first layer is your federation insurance (PADI, SSI, or local equivalent). It covers basic liability and first aid, but usually stops at borders and never protects equipment. For any trip outside your home country, dedicated dive insurance (DAN Europe, Dive Assure, PADI Travel) covers hyperbaric treatment, medical evacuation, and repatriation.

The third layer is photo equipment insurance. Your home insurance might cover your camera domestically, but rarely abroad, never underwater, and with deductibles that make claims impractical. Specialized gear insurance (offered by certain brokers or as a DAN add-on) protects housings, strobes, and lenses against accidental damage, theft, and loss during air transit.

The classic trap is assuming a premium credit card is enough. Most cards exclude diving below 10 meters, do not cover hyperbaric chambers, and impose very low equipment ceilings. They work as a complement, not a replacement.

Federation insurance covers third-party liability, first-response medical expenses, and sometimes sea rescue within your declared practice area.

Dedicated dive insurance (DAN, Dive Assure) covers hyperbaric treatment with high or unlimited ceilings (EUR 150,000 to 500,000), helicopter or air ambulance medical evacuation, repatriation, and 24/7 phone assistance with hyperbaric medicine specialists. Some plans add trip loss and cancellation coverage.

Photo equipment insurance covers accidental damage (drops, housing floods, impacts), theft with forced entry, loss by air carrier, and sometimes replacement gear loans during repair. Common exclusions are normal wear, corrosion from poor maintenance, and cosmetic damage without functional impact.