A Rhodes jet ski ride takes riders fast across the clear sea off the beaches of Rhodes. Rides start from busy resort beaches on the east and north coasts. It is one of the water sports in Greece on Greece VIP.
This post covers what a Rhodes jet ski ride includes, where visitors ride and how a jet ski works. It also covers the rules, safety and the coastal sights on the way. What riders wear, the best season and common questions come last.
Each section ends with a Rhodes jet ski ride or a nearby sea tour that can be booked online.
What does a Rhodes jet ski ride include?
A Rhodes jet ski ride centres on a personal watercraft, a small motor craft for the sea. Standard models seat two or three people. Fuel tanks hold enough for long cruises, in cases beyond 100 miles.
A personal watercraft is easy to operate. Riders need little training and experience for its basic moves. That makes a Rhodes jet ski ride open to first-timers as well as to old hands.
Warning labels on current craft tell riders to keep away from the intake grate while the engine runs. Long hair, loose clothing or life jacket straps can get caught in moving parts.
Owner’s manuals tell riders to slow down before crossing waves. Fast riding in choppy water can cause back injuries. Labels also warn that jumping wakes or waves raises spinal injury risk.
Greek beach profiles list motorised water sports at Ixia 1, along with umbrellas, sunbeds and showers. Kremasti–Trianta 1 in Trianta bay lists them too. Calm days also suit snorkeling tours off Rhodes.
- Tsambika: The beach is fully organised, with lifeguards and motorised water sports.
- Lindos: Megalos Gialos, the main beach of Lindos, is fully organised for water sports.
- Other uses: Lifeguards use craft with rescue platforms to reach people in trouble.
Wakeboard riders stand on a short board and get pulled behind a boat. A personal watercraft can tow them too. So a Rhodes jet ski ride links to other sea sports.
Where can visitors ride a Rhodes jet ski?
A Rhodes jet ski ride starts from organised beaches around the island. Each beach faces a different way. Wind and sea depth change from place to place. Faliraki, Ixia, Trianta, Kiotari, Lindos and Pefkos all appear on official Greek beach profiles.
Faliraki 1 is 1,900 m long and 25 m wide on average. It faces south-east. The beach lies at the southern end of an open bay about 6,900 m long. That bay is part of Kallithea bay.
At Faliraki 1, the sea reaches 5 m deep about 290 m from shore. The Reni stream flows all year and meets the sea here. Small private boats moor at a harbour at the south end.
Ixia 1 lies in Trianta bay, about 4 km south-west of Rhodes town. The beach is 450 m long and faces north-west. It takes the main winds, except the south-westerlies. Lifeguards work there, and pets are not allowed.
Kremasti–Trianta 1 sits on the west side of Trianta bay. It is 3,400 m long and faces north. The beach holds an estimated 3,000 bathers. A Rhodes jet ski rider finds a long stretch of shore here.
- Kiotari: This former fishing village lies 60 km south of Rhodes town.
- Lindos: Megalos Gialos, 500 m long, sits below the Acropolis of Lindos.
- Pefkos: The 730 m beach faces south-west. Pine trees on the hill behind gave the resort its name.
Kallithea beach, about 11 km from Rhodes town, is a closed cove 230 m long. Excursion boats anchor in it. A Rhodes jet ski rider shares these waters with other boats.
How does a jet ski work on a Rhodes jet ski ride?
A Rhodes jet ski ride uses a craft with an inboard engine. The engine drives a pump-jet, a water pump that pushes the craft. A screw-shaped impeller, or spinning blade, draws water in. A nozzle then shoots it out.
A pump-jet can use an axial-flow pump, which moves water straight along its length. It can also use a centrifugal pump or a mix of both. Axial-flow pumps lead by a wide margin.
In an axial-flow jet, pressure builds as water passes the impeller blades and stator vanes, the fixed fins. The nozzle turns that pressure into speed. That gives a Rhodes jet ski strong thrust and fast acceleration.
Steering with the nozzle works like thrust vectoring, which means pointing the push in a new direction. Rockets and military jets use it too. In reverse, the steering does not flip.
Control depends on water flowing through the nozzle. When a rider lets go of the throttle, steering drops with the lost thrust. A propeller boat still steers a little, because its propeller sits down in the water.
- Power: Modern engines exceed 250 horsepower and reach speeds over 60 mph.
- Stand-up craft: These have a tray for standing or kneeling instead of a seat.
- Holding still: With the reverse deflector halfway down, the craft stays put but can still turn.
A Flyboard, a board with jets under the boots, bolts onto a personal watercraft. A long hose carries water under pressure to it. A second person on the craft works the throttle to set power and height.
What rules apply to a Rhodes jet ski?
A Rhodes jet ski falls under Greek law and EU boat rules. A Greek speedboat licence needs lessons, an exam and medical checks. Every craft must be insured before it moves. Each one also meets EU design rules.
To get the Greek speedboat licence, an applicant must be healthy and able to swim. A Greek tax number, called AFM, is also needed. Training means at least twelve one-hour lessons at an approved school.
Medical certificates come from an internist or general doctor, and from an eye doctor. A valid car or motorcycle licence can replace them. Applications go to any Greek port authority at least seven days before the exam.
In the Rhodes jet ski practical test, the candidate moors stern-to, meaning back end first, and alongside. Candidates also tie one of three set sailor’s knots. Non-Greek speakers take the exam orally, with an interpreter or language graduate paid by the candidate.
Failed candidates can resit until three years pass from the first failure. The licence lasts until the holder turns sixty-five, then needs renewal. Under UNECE Resolution No. 40, the international ICC certificate has a minimum age of 16.
- Insurance: Cover pays fifty thousand euros per person, and at least five hundred thousand per incident.
- Builder’s plate: Each craft shows the CE marking, design category, maximum load and people limit.
Rental operators cannot give or advertise lessons, even online. They can only demonstrate how the craft works. EU Directive 2003/44/EC of 16 June 2003 first brought personal watercraft under EU leisure boat rules.
How safe is a Rhodes jet ski ride?
A Rhodes jet ski ride follows strict Greek safety rules. Each craft needs an automatic quick-stop system that kills the engine after a fall. Rental bases keep rescue boats and first-aid gear. Riders follow the operator’s instructions and slow down near swimmers.
Under EU design rules, the engine stops, or the craft circles slowly when the driver falls off. The craft must also lower the risk of falling overboard. A person in the water can climb back on unaided.
Every Rhodes jet ski rental base keeps an orange rescue boat that reaches at least twelve knots. It carries a ring lifebuoy on a thirty-metre line. A stretcher and first-aid kit stay ready.
Before a rental, the operator shows how the craft works and explains safe use. The renter reports any disability or health problem. If the operator refuses a ride over weather, alcohol or ignored instructions, the renter complies.
Motor craft leave or reach a beach at up to three knots. No swimmers can be within a hundred metres on either side of their course. Near swimmers, they keep thirty metres away at one knot or less.
- Passengers: No craft carries more people than its maker allows.
- Propellers: Craft with external propellers cannot run in Greece.
- Diver flag: Flag Alpha, white and blue, marks a diver below.
Rhodes jet ski riders use all the safety gear the operator provides. The orange start buoy lies at least two hundred metres from shore. Yellow buoys mark launch channels, the lanes craft use to reach open water.
What does a Rhodes jet ski ride see along the coast?
A Rhodes jet ski ride passes sandy and pebbly beaches and east-facing bays. Two beaches hold a Blue Flag. A castle stands on a hill above Charaki. A small chapel, river mouths and pine trees also line the shore.
Ladiko beach sits inside Afantou bay. It is 95 m long and 15 m wide, on sand and scattered rocks. The water stays shallow, reaching 5 m deep about 120 m out. The rocky seabed suits spearfishing.
Traganou beach, also spelled Traounou, lies four kilometres from Faliraki. Its seabed is pebbles and rock. The water reaches 5 m deep just 60 m from shore. Excursion boats anchor in its bay.
Palm trees and pines grow at Kallithea. A concrete pier stands on its east side, with wooden diving platforms. Tsambika beach has sand dunes, tamarisk trees and scrub. It holds an estimated 1,500 bathers.
Agia Agathi beach lies 38 km south of Rhodes town and 10 km from Lindos. A small church of Agia Agathi stands at its north end. The Makaris and Has rivers meet the sea at Charaki.
- Feraklos Castle: The Knights Hospitaller took this 85 m hilltop fort on 20 September 1306.
- Wildlife: Wild mountain sheep called mouflon gather in the castle ruins at dusk.
From a Rhodes jet ski, the castle ruins and Charaki bay come into view. The river mouth there is a listed island wetland. Green and brown algae grow on the seabed at Tsambika.
What do riders wear on a Rhodes jet ski?
Rhodes jet ski riders wear sun gear, eye protection and sometimes a wetsuit. An impact vest adds flotation and shields the torso from blows. Water sunglasses need a strap and shatterproof lenses. Wetsuit bootees protect the feet on rough ground.
An impact vest also helps in a long self-rescue in deep water. It keeps the wearer afloat with less effort. A rider who falls far from shore gains extra time this way.
A short john, or shorty, covers the torso and the legs to the knee. A spring suit adds short or long sleeves. A long john looks like a bib overall.
On a Rhodes jet ski, nylon frames suit the sea well. They bend under pressure and return to shape. Plastic lenses are lighter and resist shattering, but they scratch more easily.
Health bodies advise sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses when the UV index is 3 or higher. The UV index is a scale of sunburn risk. About 95% of the ultraviolet light reaching the ground is UVA. About 5% is UVB.
- Kill cord: This engine-stop cord is not worn on the wrist, since it can slip off.
- Back zip: Vertical back zippers close with a lanyard.
- Floating glasses: Water sunglasses can float and have a vent against fog.
A wetsuit adds buoyancy and blocks scrapes, sunburn and wind chill. Wetsuit trousers cover only the lower torso and legs. Riders pick the cut that matches the water and the weather.
When is the best season for a Rhodes jet ski ride?
A Rhodes jet ski ride works best in spring and early autumn, when winds are lighter. Summer brings stronger winds. Calmer air returns in October. Port rules stop all rentals once the wind passes a set limit. Sheltered beaches help on windy days.
HNMS is the Greek weather service. It gives Rodos a mean wind of 8.6 knots in April. June rises to 10.2 knots. August reaches 11.2 knots.
Greek port rules ban renting out leisure craft in wind above 5 Beaufort, or 38 km/h. Poor visibility also stops rentals. A portable digital anemometer, a wind meter, decides when the limit applies.
On a Rhodes jet ski, beach choice matters on windy days. Faliraki 1 and Kiotari are sheltered from the prevailing, or usual, winds. Lardos is sheltered too, except from south-westerlies. Pefkos is exposed.
A 19 km/h wind blows for 2 hours over 19 km of open water. The waves average only 0.27 m. The same wind logic applies to jet ski rides on Santorini.
- Sea warmth: February is the coolest month, with the sea at 17.0 °C.
- Air: July is the warmest month, at about 29 °C.
- Late season: Wind drops to 6.6 knots in October.
Ripples die fast once the wind stops. Larger waves last long after the wind has died. A calm morning after a windy night can still bring a choppy sea.
What do travelers ask about a Rhodes jet ski?
Rhodes jet ski questions cover safety gear, fuel, age and rental rules. Greek port rules set clear duties for rental firms. Riders also have duties of their own. Each base keeps a stretcher and a portable first-aid kit ready.
What safety gear does a Rhodes jet ski carry?
A personal watercraft carries the flares and extinguishers its maker sets. Otherwise, it carries two hand flares, a smoke signal and a small powder extinguisher. Flares are bright signals for help. A craft with damage or an engine breakdown is not allowed to run.
Who checks the fuel on a Rhodes jet ski?
The rental firm checks that the craft carries enough fuel before handing it over. The renter also checks the fuel and the life-saving gear. Renters must use all the safety gear the firm provides. Shared checks lower the risk at sea.
How old must drivers be for a Rhodes jet ski?
In the United States, the minimum driving age ranges from 12 to 18 years. Young drivers can need an adult on board. California and Florida raised the age from 12 to 16 in the late 1990s. Florida added a safety course for under-18s.
Can a firm refuse a Rhodes jet ski rental?
A firm can refuse a rental even when wind stays below the 5 Beaufort limit. It does this if it judges the weather unsafe. A renter who has been drinking can be refused. The renter must comply at once.
When must a Rhodes jet ski return to shore?
Rental firms bring all their craft to a safe place by sunset at the latest. The place can be on land or at sea. The firm must stay at its site for the whole rental. Renting is banned while it is away.
What details does a firm record before a Rhodes jet ski rental?
Firms keep a list of renters. It holds name, age, nationality and phone number. It also holds an ID card or passport number, or a home address. The date and time each rental starts goes on the list too.