Two Things Worth Protecting
Our expeditions take small groups to coral reefs, rainforests, and islands well off the usual routes. Getting there takes some planning, and we'd rather you plan for all of it, including the part most travelers would rather not think about. A travel insurance plan can help protect two things: the investment you've made in the trip, and your access to care while you're far from home.
Before You Travel: Your Trip Investment
Because we charter entire vessels and reserve small lodges well in advance (liveaboard dates are sometimes held two years out), our payment schedule is firm. Full payment is due 120 days before departure, and from 119 days out, our cancellation schedule retains 100% of the expedition fee (see our Terms and Conditions here).
Most travelers never need this. But life occasionally intervenes in ways nobody plans for, such as an illness or injury, a family emergency, or a connection that doesn't happen, and trip cancellation coverage is what lets you recover the cost for a covered reason instead of absorbing it. It covers your airfare on the same terms, which is also why we suggest holding off on non-refundable tickets until your departure is confirmed, about four months before the trip.
While You're Away: Care Far From Home
Part of what makes our destinations extraordinary is how far they sit from the ordinary world. That distance is part of the appeal. It also means that, in the unlikely event you needed medical care, reaching it would take longer and cost more than it would at home.
Carrying emergency medical and evacuation coverage is simply standard practice among experienced expedition travelers. It's also why we recommend DAN membership alongside a travel insurance plan.
Most travelers sort all of this out in a single sitting, months ahead, and never think about it again. That's the goal — not worry, just one fewer thing standing between you and the trip.
Our Recommended Provider: Travelex Insurance Services*
We've reviewed travel insurance providers against what our expeditions actually require — trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical care, medical evacuation, baggage, and delay coverage in remote destinations. Travelex Insurance Services* consistently offers the strongest combination of coverage and value for the way our travelers travel, and we've worked with them for years.
Travelex offers several plans at different price points. Start a quote to see current options and pricing for your destination and departure dates, or call and speak to someone who can walk you through the differences.
Prefer to talk it through? Call Travelex Insurance Services* at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 05-2806 so your quote is linked to your Oceanic Society expedition.
Add Medical Evacuation Coverage Through DAN
We've partnered with Divers Alert Network for years, and we recommend membership to every traveler — snorkelers, divers, and wildlife watchers alike. Where a travel insurance plan protects your trip investment, DAN membership is built for the medical emergency itself: getting you from a remote reef or forest to appropriate care. Membership covers you on any trip more than 50 miles from home, diving or not, and includes:
- Up to $150,000 in combined emergency medical transportation and travel assistance benefits
- DAN TravelAssist® — 24/7 emergency coordination, evacuation and repatriation logistics
- Access to DAN's insurance services and a subscription to Alert Diver
- Coverage for everyone listed on a family membership
Regular membership starts at $40 per year for individuals and $60 for families. DAN also offers an Enhanced tier with higher limits.
One thing to expect: DAN's enrollment page is branded for scuba diving. Don't let that turn you away. Membership and its evacuation benefits apply to non-divers on any qualifying trip.
Buy Early. Some Coverage Has a Deadline.
Travel insurance is one of the few purchases where waiting costs you options rather than money. The most valuable benefits — including waivers for pre-existing medical conditions and, where available, Cancel For Any Reason upgrades — are only offered if you buy within 21 days of paying your initial trip deposit. After that window closes, the plans remain available; those benefits do not.
If you've just paid a deposit on an expedition, this is the week to handle it.
Travel Protection FAQs
How This Works
Oceanic Society earns a commission when travelers purchase a Travelex plan or a DAN membership through the links on this page. You pay the same price either way, and that revenue supports our ocean conservation programs.
We'd recommend both coverages regardless. In more than five decades of leading expeditions, the travelers we've been able to help most in a difficult moment were the ones who had arranged coverage before they left.
Choosing What's Right for You
Insurance needs differ from traveler to traveler. We offer these recommendations to help you start, but it's up to you to read the policy terms, confirm the coverage you need, and check that you're not duplicating coverage you already carry through a credit card, an employer plan, or an existing annual travel policy.
If you're not sure how travel insurance fits your expedition, call us at 1-800-326-7491. We can't advise you on policies, but we can tell you exactly what your itinerary involves, such as how remote you'll be, what medical facilities are nearby, and what your payment and cancellation dates are.
*Travel Insurance is offered on behalf of and under the direction of Travelex Insurance Services, Inc (CA Agency License #0D10209). This offer is not intended for residents of New York; residents of NY should contact Travelex at 1-800-228-9792 for more information. Your travel retailer might not be licensed to sell travel insurance and will only be able to provide general information about the product. An unlicensed travel retailer may not answer questions about the terms and conditions of the insurance offered and may not evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance coverage. Insurance coverage underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC #16535, state of domicile: New York), 1299 Zurich Way, Schaumburg, IL 60196. Coverages available to residents of U.S. States and the District of Columbia only. Certain coverages not available in all states. Quote rates are subject to change prior to plan purchase.