Jet Skis

[somchai jones]

Jet skis. Is it just me or are these a menace that should be removed from Samui and everywhere else for that matter.

Great option is to rent out a sea kayak: cheaper, healthier and lots of fun too.

[rio666uk]

You should have made this a Poll.

Personally, I think they can be a nuisance, but the guys that try to get you to hire them every time you standup on the beach are a bigger pain in the a$$.... but I dont see why they should be got rid off.

I do think they should be forced to operate out in deeper water and well away from swimmers - but they serve a purpose, plenty of people have a great time on them - and they can be perfectly safe if driven sensibly....

They are no more of a menace than the big superbikes you see tourists hiring to belt up and down the beach roads at patong, patters etc.

[limbos]

I consider them to be very dangerous and I'm extremely surprised that no deadly accidents have happened yet in Samui.

These are accidents waiting to happen.

[mitmig]

I also always wonder why no serious accidents have happened when I see them in Lamai. Jetski's and swimmers don't get along very well! I agree on not banning them, but make a separate area for them.

[Rooo]

Some areas are ropped off,out of bounds for them.Safest thing as stated previously is to have them within a safe range away from swimmers.

[evadgib]

I do think they should be forced to operate out in deeper water and well away from swimmers - but they serve a purpose, plenty of people have a great time on them - and they can be perfectly safe if driven sensibly....

Several times per year I find myself being used as a slalem bouy @ choeng mon! IMO there should be a 500m exclusion zone from any beach; anyone operating within it (ie getting on or off) should be going at walking pace.

[LaoPo]

Jet skis. Is it just me or are these a menace that should be removed from Samui and everywhere else for that matter.

BAN THEM!

Not just dangerous but 'noisy' and spoiling peoples rest on the beaches too.

I hate these things.

LaoPo

[RAZZELL]

Great laugh...if you're riding one...Not too good if you're get a smack in the head or are trying to have a kip!!!

[suegha]

Forgive my ignorance, but what are jet skis?

[jrincon17]

I consider them to be very dangerous and I'm extremely surprised that no deadly accidents have happened yet in Samui.

These are accidents waiting to happen.

Happened in Phuket and probably samui , just didnt hear about . Might have fallen off the balcony , wait thats Pattya

[LaoPo]

HERE: they use them all the time at the beaches

Forgive my ignorance, but what are jet skis?

[suegha]

HERE: they use them all the time at the beaches

Forgive my ignorance, but what are jet skis?

I just don't feel that this is the correct answer - you're winding me up!

[LaoPo]

HERE: they use them all the time at the beaches

Forgive my ignorance, but what are jet skis?

I just don't feel that this is the correct answer - you're winding me up!

Really?

OK:

OR:

LaoPo

[Wes Turner]

I consider them to be very dangerous and I'm extremely surprised that no deadly accidents have happened yet in Samui.

These are accidents waiting to happen.

Jet Skis are no more dangerous than motorbikes.

I am in the jet ski business (not rental) and the ice has not even broken on their potential.

[somchai jones]

I consider them to be very dangerous and I'm extremely surprised that no deadly accidents have happened yet in Samui.

These are accidents waiting to happen.

Jet Skis are no more dangerous than motorbikes.

I am in the jet ski business (not rental) and the ice has not even broken on their potential.

They may be no more dangerous than motorbikes, however there are still a couple of major concerns on that point:

1) You don't need a licence to drive one.

2) Because there aren't usually any properly defined zones, riding a jet ski near the beach is like riding a motorbike on the pavement.

We must have regulated zones and then it would be less dangerous and swimmers and jet ski riders would both be happy.

[limbos]

Wes,

I'm in the diving business and from my point of view they're very dangerous, since there are no rules and/or restrictions to where the people who rent them can use them.

During too many beach dives jet skis have run over the exact spot Iwas diving at although it was clearly marked with a buoy.

The audience that uses it and probably also the ones that rent them out are uneducated about how to use them and aren't aware or are plain disregarding divers.

[LaoPo]

Jet Skis are no more dangerous than motorbikes.

I am in the jet ski business (not rental) and the ice has not even broken on their potential.

Jet skis (fast+heavy machines and very dangerous) , swimmers and divers (slow and no protection) SHOULD NOT MIX

LaoPo

Edited January 13, 2006 by LaoPo

[Wes Turner]

They may be no more dangerous than motorbikes, however there are still a couple of major concerns on that point:

1) You don't need a licence to drive one.

And you do for motorbikes on this island?

Wes,

I'm in the diving business and from my point of view they're very dangerous, since there are no rules and/or restrictions to where the people who rent them can use them.

During too many beach dives jet skis have run over the exact spot Iwas diving at although it was clearly marked with a buoy.

The audience that uses it and probably also the ones that rent them out are uneducated about how to use them and aren't aware or are plain disregarding divers.

Alright alright, fair point - I have to admit that were there tougher regulations then Kirsty McColl would still be accompanying The Pogues on tour.

[sierra01]

Jet skis, motor cycles, guns and whatnot in themselves are not dangerous, it's the people using them that are dangerous. Regarding jet skis, is there any regulation on them here? Probably not.

Back in sleepy old Bognor Regis they are regulated, there is a sort of T shape, they go out and in via the l, once they're at the end they're well out and don't affect anyone. There is an inshore high speed boat that patrols up and down making sure they stick to the rules, and rarely any problems.

Too much to ask in a country where life is so cheap and there's money to be made.

[Wes Turner]

'Life is so cheap and there's money to be made'

A friend of mine has been looking for a new tagline for her Thailand Tourism magazine.

Would you mind if I let her use this?

Seriously though, I love Thailand, warts and all.

[irish25]

i am a diver here in pattay to and i hate the bloody jet skis,i have had one come very close to my head as i was surfacing once,even though it was very clear there was divers there and the people from out boat were shouting at the driver to get away!i have seen two times when divers have actualy got hit and sent to hospital!very sad!the jet skis seem to use our markers as a race course and if you give out to them and tell them to go away that they are going to hurt someone it only seems to make them go faster!!!

[LaoPo]

i am a diver here in pattay to and i hate the bloody jet skis,i have had one come very close to my head as i was surfacing once,even though it was very clear there was divers there and the people from out boat were shouting at the driver to get away!i have seen two times when divers have actualy got hit and sent to hospital!very sad!the jet skis seem to use our markers as a race course and if you give out to them and tell them to go away that they are going to hurt someone it only seems to make them go faster!!!

Couldn't agree more.

It will probably first have to take a fatal accident with a famous/well-known Thai-'upper-class' to put VERY STRICT regulations or even ban these things near beaches and divingspots.

LaoPo

[irish25]

yes i dont understand why they dont do same as in any other country i have seen them,usualy there is a small area of beach for them do drive in and out to pick up people,its roped off so no swimmers can get in then out very far away from the beach they have like a big triangle track that they can do as they liked!!