Scared Of Shark Attacks? Get Insurance!

What a time to be alive. Shark hysteria – not unjustified – has washed through Australia with rapid momentum over the last three years. Maybe it’s an increase in the amount of attacks that’ve happened in Australian waters, or maybe it’s the self-perpetuating wheel of media coverage > big clicks > more media coverage. Either way, the regularity is unsettling. Everyone is scared, and lying if they say otherwise.

And few industries in the world are better at capitalising on fear than insurance companies. So, as a logical next step, you can now purchase insurance cover for shark attacks.

For $130 a year, Mona Vale’s Carriers Insurance Brokers will cover surfers 24/7 for a number of injuries that occur in the ocean, or by way of shark attack, including:

Death &/or Permanent Total Disablement
Permanent & incurable paralysis of all limbs
Permanent total loss of sight of one or both eyes
Permanent Total Loss of Use of one or two limbs
Permanent and incurable insanity
Permanent Total Loss of hearing in one or both ears
Permanent Total Loss of fingers, toes, eye lens, joints
Temporary partial Disablement caused directly and solely by injury
Broken bones
Exposure
Disappearance

“Permanent and incurable insanity” will surely be most frequently-claimed in the Bondi and Snapper areas.

The only kink in the above list is that the accident must take place during a non-motorised saltwater ocean sport to be eligible (for up to a $50k lump sum payment), so don’t expect any cash if your tow session goes south.

Cynical as the world has become about insurance companies, this is actually a very good idea. Being chewed isn’t something any surfer wants to experience, but at least there’s some small peace of mind.

“I think everybody who surfs is always kind of thinking about sharks,” says Newport’s Benny Bradley, founder of 1 Love Surfing club, who partnered with Carriers to set up the policy. “It’s just having that peace of mind… it makes a big difference. That was one of the reasons why I thought, why not do some kind of insurance?”

If this is something you feel could improve your surfing experience somewhat, you’ll find more info over here.

So… you gonna go in on it?