All roles/Specialist crew/Jet Ski Instructor
Specialist crew
Jet Ski Instructor
You run the jet skis and personal watercraft on board, teaching guests to ride safely and supervising every session so the most popular toy on the yacht never becomes the most dangerous.
- Department
- Specialist crew
- Reports to
- Bosun / Boatswain
- Yacht size
- 50m to 150m+
- Contract
- Seasonal
- Starting pay
- €2,800 per month
What the job is
You are the person who puts guests on jet skis, Seabobs and other personal watercraft and brings them back in one piece. On a busy charter the PWCs are out most afternoons, and owners with children expect proper teaching, not a quick briefing and a wave. You give the safety talk, fit lifejackets and kill cords, teach the basics close to the boat, then lead or shadow riders on longer runs along the coast.
Safety and local rules shape every session. You check the swim zones, speed limits and no go areas for each anchorage, which change between Saint Tropez, Mallorca and the Bahamas. You watch for swimmers, tenders and other boats, keep riders within sight and stop a session the moment conditions or behaviour turn. Some guests have never ridden. Others think they are experts. You manage both with a calm, firm manner that keeps them on side.
Outside sessions you work as part of the deck team. You launch and recover the PWCs with the crane or from the tender garage, flush them with fresh water after every use, check oil, hulls and impellers, and keep the service log for the engineers. On guest off days you wash down, polish stainless, help with mooring and drive tenders if you hold the ticket. On smaller yachts the role is often combined with deckhand duties.
What makes a good one
- Clear, patient teaching
- Reading sea and weather
- Spotting risk early
- Basic PWC maintenance
- Firm but friendly with guests
A day in the life
- 07:00Deck breakfast and wash down of the swim platform and aft deck before guests wake.
- 08:30Pre use checks on four jet skis and two Seabobs: fuel, oil, kill cords, hull and intake grilles. Batteries on charge from the night before.
- 10:00Launch the PWCs with the crane and set a marker buoy at the edge of the swim zone. Brief the bosun on the planned ride area.
- 10:45First session with two teenage guests who have never ridden. Safety briefing, practice starts and turns close to the yacht before letting them build speed.
- 12:30Bring the skis alongside for guest lunch. Quick fresh water flush and a look at one intake that picked up weed.
- 14:30Lead a group ride of four skis along the coast to a beach cove, riding at the back to keep everyone in sight, with the tender following as chase boat.
- 16:30Back aboard, recover the skis, flush engines, rinse and dry hulls, and note running hours in the maintenance log.
- 18:00Deck duties for the evening: tidy the toy garage, help set the aft deck and stand by for a tender run ashore.
- 21:00Check tomorrow's forecast and the anchorage rules for the next stop, then off watch.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for crew on yachts of 50m to 100m, quoted in local currency. Food and accommodation on board are included. Charter tips are shared with the crew and can add 10 to 15% of the charter fee per season.
- France and Monaco
- €2,800 – 3,800
- Spain
- €2,700 – 3,700
- Italy
- €2,700 – 3,700
- United Kingdom
- £2,400 – 3,200
- USA (Florida)
- US$3,000 – 4,200
- Caribbean
- US$3,000 – 4,200
- UAE
- US$3,000 – 4,000
- Australia
- A$4,600 – 6,300
- New Zealand
- NZ$5,000 – 6,900
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- RYA PWC Proficiency
- RYA Personal Watercraft Instructor
Recommended
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties)
- Medical First Aid
- RYA Safety Boat
- PADI Divemaster
- Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)
Visas
- Schengen visa for non EU crew
- US B1/B2 or C1/D for US and Caribbean seasons
- Australian MCV for Australian cruising
Where it leads
Jet Ski Instructor jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need an instructor ticket or is the RYA PWC course enough?
The PWC Proficiency course lets you ride, but yachts hiring a dedicated instructor expect the RYA Personal Watercraft Instructor qualification. Without it you are more likely to be hired as a deckhand who drives the skis.
Is this a full time job all year?
Most dedicated jet ski roles are seasonal, running through the Mediterranean summer or a Caribbean winter. To stay employed year round, most instructors also work as deckhands and add tender and watersports tickets.
Will I do deck work as well as teaching?
Yes, on nearly every yacht. When guests are not riding you wash down, help with mooring and maintain the toys, so expect a deckhand's routine around your sessions.