Illegal jet ski and boat rentals putting swimmers at risk, association warns

Local accidentbeachlawTop News Illegal jet ski and boat rentals putting swimmers at risk, association warns Jet Ski 2 Relevant News Cyprus rejects Iran escalation fears, says it remains ‘pillar of stability’ 20 August 2026 Illegal jet ski and boat rentals putting swimmers at risk, association warns 20 August 2026 Cyprus pension reform avoids cuts but unions raise concerns 20 August 2026 Vassos Vassiliou 20 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Unlicensed operators are renting out jet skis and pleasure boats to minors and inexperienced users on Cyprus’s beaches. Often no accident insurance is in place, raising the risk to both riders and swimmers, the Pancyprian Water Sports Association has warned. Jet skis and pleasure boats are increasingly being handled either by minors or by people without the required experience, putting both riders and swimmers at greater risk. In some cases, operators take out a family or group of people on a jet ski or boat with no insurance cover in place should an accident occur. The risks are heightened further in summer, when both the number of swimmers and the number of boats moving through Cyprus’s waters rise sharply. Illegal operators Association president Dimitris Hatzidimitriou told philenews that illegal operators active in the water sports sector must also be factored into the risk picture. Asked how their activity becomes apparent, he pointed to online adverts for renting jet skis and boats of various sizes. He added that anyone working in the industry who is at the beach daily can see that many vessels at sea belong neither to licensed professionals nor to people using their own jet skis or boats for personal use. He also described a pattern in which the same vessel is operated by a different person almost every day: a Cypriot one day, a foreign national the next, then a family or a woman. None of them are professionals or owners, simply renters taking the boat out for a short trip. He said this illegal activity raises the risk of accidents involving jet skis and other boats. Asked how the activity is detected, he said it shows up as a drop in business for licensed professionals alongside a rise in the number of boats at sea. He explained that some unlicensed operators use boats that don’t belong to them to offer a range of water sports covering different tastes, helping them hold on to customers. Asked how this arrangement works, he said some approach boat owners to gauge their interest in having someone else cover the boat’s costs, since upkeep, particularly marina mooring, is expensive. The unlicensed operators then rent the boats from their owners and offer them on to tourists. He said the problem has worsened with the growth of internet bookings, which let customers reserve a boat for their entire holiday, a weekend, or even a single day. He noted that margins in the sector are tight. Jet ski rental rates run at around €50 to €60 per 15 minutes. Online rentals The internet also allows people to book a boat for a sea tour with family or friends. Hatzidimitriou said it’s common for customers to rent a package combining a tour boat with towed jet skis, or to have jet skis loaded onto larger rented boats. He also referred to a fatal incident in Limassol in the relatively recent past, when two jet skis being carried aboard a boat were thrown into the sea and collided after being used by the people who had rented the boat. Asked about rental prices, he said small passenger boats with capacity for five to six people can rent for around €100 an hour, with some operators charging extra for fuel on longer trips. On insurance, he said licensed operators are required to hold third-party cover, meaning their customers are protected in the event of injury from an accident. He said an illegally operating individual might still show a customer an insurance policy, but that such policies typically include a clause stating: “the use of the machine is understood to be lawful,” which leaves both users and owners exposed if the operator isn’t licensed. Minors and jet skis Asked how a jet ski can end up being operated by a minor, Hatzidimitriou, speaking from his own experience and that of colleagues, said there are cases where a jet ski is rented by an adult but is being operated by a minor within a short time. He said he knows this happens in many areas and with many of his colleagues. He described a typical exchange: an adult arrives with his son and asks the licensed operator whether the boy can have a turn on the jet ski. Once the adult’s age is confirmed and the required declaration signed, he is briefed on safety for himself and others at sea before taking the jet ski out. Once out at sea, Hatzidimitriou said, the two then often swap places, meaning an accident is far from unlikely. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Cyprus rejects Iran escalation fears, says it remains ‘pillar of stability’ Cyprus pension reform avoids cuts but unions raise concerns Court to rule on custody in Paphos domestic violence case Trilogy Limassol Seafront: a dining destination Theta Mediterranean: seafood by the water in Pervolia Biker accused of running down officer, fleeing scene, loses court challenge COP31: Ankara’s Cyprus snub triggers Brussels warning Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.