While scuba diving can be risky, it probably won’t make it harder to get life insurance as long as only do it from time to time. Your risk is calculated based on how often you dive, where, and what kinds of dives you do.
That means that if you scuba dive less than 10 times per year and less than 100 feet in depth, it won’t affect your life insurance rates unless you have other health issues that make diving more dangerous.
Here’s an example of how diving can affect your risk classification (and your rates) when you apply for life insurance:
Company | Best possible classification | Depth allowance (in feet) |
Brighthouse Financial | Preferred Plus | 100 |
Corebridge Financial | Preferred Plus | 100 |
Legal & General America | Preferred Plus | 100 |
Lincoln Financial | Preferred Plus | 100 |
Mutual of Omaha | Preferred | 100 |
Pacific Life | Preferred Plus | 100 |
Protective | Standard | 75 |
Prudential | Preferred Plus | 100 |
Symetra | N/A | N/A |
Transamerica | Preferred Plus | 75 |
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N/A indicates that applicants are unlikely to qualify for a Preferred classification with this insurer. Methodology: Based on underwriting data provided by Policygenius partner insurers as of January 2024.
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How scuba diving affects life insurance
While scuba diving recreationally probably won’t affect your life insurance rates or eligibility, diving a lot or scuba diving as part of your work .
If you dive professionally or frequently — more than 10 times per year or deeper than 100 feet — it usually means one of three things when you apply for life insurance: higher rates, a flat extra fee, or denial of coverage.
Increased premiums: If you dive more than 100 feet deep or more than 10 times per year, insurance companies are more likely to give you a lower risk classification and charge higher rates.
Extra fee: You could also face a flat extra fee of $2 to $5 for every $1,000 of coverage you have — that’s an extra $5,000 a year on a $1 million life insurance policy.
Denial of coverage: If your diving activities are frequent, deep, or dangerous, you may have trouble getting regular coverage. In cases like this, final expense insurance could be a good option, especially if you’re concerned about end-of-life costs.
Hazardous sports exclusion rider for scuba diving
Life insurance companies may let you skip the flat extra fee if you add a hazardous sports exclusion rider to your policy instead, but it may not be worth it.
Hazardous exclusion riders aren’t free and adding one to your policy means that your beneficiaries won’t receive a death benefit if you die while scuba diving. If you’re not sure whether you should take a policy with the exclusion attached, it’s best to talk with a licensed agent or broker about your policy options.
Life insurance for professional scuba divers
If you work as a professional diver, whether you’re a professional scuba instructor (PADI pro), an underwater welder, underwater photographer, marine biologist or archeologist, safety diver, or commercial diving professional, the amount of time you spend underwater may impact your life insurance.
As mentioned above, divers who dive more than 10 times a year or regularly go beyond 100 feet may see higher life insurance rates, an additional fee for every $1,000 in coverage, or may be denied coverage altogether. And that includes professional divers too.
Your job as a diver may also impact how much life insurance you need and how long your coverage should last.
How to get life insurance as a scuba diver
If you scuba dive recreationally or professionally, be prepared to answer some questions about your diving habits, like:
What type of scuba diving do you do? Your life insurance rates will be cheaper if you’re a recreational diver rather than a professional.
Where do you scuba dive? Open-water scuba diving has little effect on your life insurance rates.
How often do you scuba dive annually? Your rates are more likely to be higher if you scuba dive 10 or more times a year, but this can change from company to company.
How deep do you dive? Expect to pay a flat extra fee if you typically dive beyond 100 feet, though some insurance companies have more flexible limits.
Do you dive alone? Diving alone translates to higher rates.
Do you dive for pay? This won’t necessarily increase your rates, but it will lead to follow-up questions about how dangerous your work is and how often you dive.
Are you scuba certified? There are three scuba certification options: Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), or Scuba Schools International (SSI).
How do specific certifications affect your life insurance rates?
There are many certifications that you can get from different scuba organizations as you become a more experienced diver, but having these certifications probably won’t affect your life insurance rates or options. Insurance companies are much more interested in how often and how deep you dive.
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Best life insurance companies for divers
Whether you’re an occasional, frequent, or professional diver, finding the right life insurance company is an important part of financial planning. We used industry data, pricing from our partners, and third-party ratings like AM Best and J.D. Power to pick the best companies for divers.
If you’re ready to compare life insurance quotes and find the right coverage, Policygenius can help.
Best term life insurance: Prudential
Best whole life insurance: MassMutual
Most affordable life insurance: Prudential
Best final expense life insurance: Mutual of Omaha
Methodology: How we chose the best life insurance companies for divers of 2024
We don’t get paid for our company reviews and use an extensive rubric of criteria covering policy details, price, financial confidence, third-party ratings, and customer experience to assign unbiased ratings out of five stars. Any recommendations we make are based on internal and external expert opinions and data from our Policygenius Price Index, which uses real-time rate data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends.
Our ratings and reviews can help point you to an insurer you can rely on for your family’s financial protection, but the best life insurance company for you is dependent on multiple factors. A licensed agent at Policygenius can work with you through the application process so you’re getting coverage from the best insurer for your circ*mstances at the most competitive price.
→ Read more about our reviews methodology here
Best term life insurance for divers
2024 Policygenius award winner
Prudential
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.1
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
With nearly four million policyholders and 150 years to its name, Prudential offers competitive coverage options for seniors, as well as people with some of the most common medical conditions, including asthma, depression, and fibromyalgia.
Pros and cons
Pros
Good for people over 60
More flexible income requirements than some other insurers
Considers applicants with a variety of immigration statuses (visas and green cards)
Cons
Younger applicants will likely find better prices elsewhere
Read our full Prudential review
The best term life insurance company for divers is Prudential. Some companies simply do not offer term life insurance coverage to frequent divers, but Prudential generally has more relaxed guidelines and more affordable rates when it comes to scuba drivers.
What is term life insurance?
Term life insurance is the cheapest and most practical type of life insurance for most people. Here’s how it works: If you die during the time your policy is active — its “term” — your family receives a payment.
Best whole life insurance for divers
2024 Policygenius award winner
MassMutual
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.9
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A++
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
All 50 states
Why we chose it
MassMutual’s whole life insurance plan provides a lifetime coverage option that builds cash value with the potential to earn dividends.
Pros and cons
Pros
Strong financial stability ratings
Higher potential for dividends for whole life policyholders than many competitors
Good customer satisfaction ratings
Cons
High term life premiums
Term life not available through Policygenius
Read our full MassMutual review
MassMutual is the best whole life insurance company thanks to its high scores for financial stability (it earns an A++ from AM Best). That’s important for whole life insurance because the policies are permanent, meaning they’re guaranteed to pay out at the end of your life.
What is whole life insurance?
Whole life insurance might be right for you if you want to use your life insurance as an investment, or provide for dependents with lifelong needs. Whole life insurance never expires and comes with a cash value component that gains interest over time. If you’re already maximizing your contributions to tax-advantaged accounts like a Roth IRA or a 401(k) and are seeking another investment option, whole life insurance might work for you.
Most affordable life insurance for divers
2024 Policygenius award winner
Prudential
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.1
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
With nearly four million policyholders and 150 years to its name, Prudential offers competitive coverage options for seniors, as well as people with some of the most common medical conditions, including asthma, depression, and fibromyalgia.
Pros and cons
Pros
Good for people over 60
More flexible income requirements than some other insurers
Considers applicants with a variety of immigration statuses (visas and green cards)
Cons
Younger applicants will likely find better prices elsewhere
Read our full Prudential review
We found that the most affordable life insurance for divers comes from Prudential. Prudential’s rates are more likely to be cheaper than competitors thanks to its flexible underwriting guidelines for divers.
You might even be able to apply without taking a medical exam. If you have one or two well-managed health issues, Prudential may waive the health exam, which is required for most life insurance applications.
Best final expense life insurance for divers
Mutual of Omaha
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.5
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Mutual of Omaha is a reputable company that offers a variety of life insurance products — including a no-medical-exam option — so that you can select the type of life insurance that best suits your needs.
Pros and cons
Pros
No-medical-exam options for older applicants
Strong financial and customer ratings
Cons
Policies are more expensive than average
Slow turnaround time
Read our full Mutual of Omaha review
The best final expense life insurance for divers is from Mutual of Omaha. We like that it has affordable rates and offers two coverage levels depending on your health. You may qualify for up to $25,000 for simplified coverage or up to $40,000 for preferred coverage.
What is final expense life insurance?
If you can’t get standard life insurance coverage, final expense coverage is a good way to pay for end-of-life costs, like funeral and burial expenses. This type of coverage is permanent (meaning it lasts for the rest of your life) and usually offers a death benefit between $10,000 and $40,000.
Why do scuba divers need life insurance?
It’s worth getting life insurance if you’re a scuba diver — and it doesn’t have anything to do with the risks involved with diving, getting life insurance is just a smart idea.
A good life insurance policy can:
Replace your income: If you have a family or dependents who rely on your income, life insurance can make sure they’re protected even if they suddenly lose your salary.
Cover debt: Life insurance can help your family pay off any debt after you die, including student loans, a mortgage, or car loans.
Add to employer insurance coverage: You might get some life insurance through your work, but this kind of coverage usually doesn’t provide as much protection as a private life insurance policy.
You should get life insurance as soon as possible. The younger you are when you apply, the cheaper your life insurance rates will be. And, if you need more coverage later on, you can always supplement your policy.
How much does life insurance cost for divers?
The average cost of life insurance for a 35-year-old, frequent diver with one or two minor, well-managed health conditions is about $62 per month for a 20-term life policy with a $1 million death benefit payout.
That said, your exact premiums depend on factors like your gender, age, and health. It also depends on how often you dive, since rates are higher for professional or frequent scuba divers.
Term life insurance rates for divers
The rates below offer an estimate for what a diver can expect to pay for a 20-year term life insurance policy with a $1 million death benefit payout.
Age | Gender | $1 million coverage amount |
|---|---|---|
20 | Female | $45.72 |
Male | $57.37 | |
30 | Female | $48.58 |
Male | $58.89 | |
40 | Female | $78.22 |
Male | $98.32 | |
50 | Female | $173.25 |
Male | $237.14 | |
60 | Female | $456.84 |
Male | $644.08 |
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Methodology: Average monthly estimated rates are calculated for male and female non-smokers in the Standard Plus health classification, obtaining a 20-year $1,000,000 term life insurance policy. Life insurance rates are based on policies offered by Policygenius from Prudential, and may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 01/01/2024.
Whole life insurance rates for divers
The following is an estimate for what a diver can expect to pay for a whole life insurance policy with a $1 million death benefit payout.
Age | Gender | $1 million coverage amount |
|---|---|---|
20 | Female | $545 |
Male | $639 | |
30 | Female | $801 |
Male | $920 | |
40 | Female | $1,161 |
Male | $1,372 | |
50 | Female | $1,826 |
Male | $2,117 | |
60 | Female | $3,065 |
Male | $3,556 | |
70 | Female | $5,580 |
Male | $6,198 |
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Methodology: Average monthly estimated rates are calculated for male and female insureds obtaining a whole life insurance policy of $1,000,000 from MassMutual. Life insurance rates are based on policies offered by Policygenius and may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 01/01/2024.
Final expense life insurance rates for divers
The following is an estimate for what a diver can expect to pay for a $25,000 final expense life insurance policy.
Age | Gender | $25,000 coverage amount |
|---|---|---|
50 | Female | $74.47 |
Male | $98.96 | |
60 | Female | $105.21 |
Male | $140.69 | |
70 | Female | $158.19 |
Male | $215.16 |
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Methodology: Average monthly estimated rates are calculated for male and female insureds obtaining a final expense life insurance policy of $25,000 from Mutual of Omaha. Life insurance rates are based on policies offered by Policygenius and may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 01/01/2024.
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