Legal frame
Governing: ΓΚΛ 20 art. 9(2), 9(5), 27, 28, 30, 37(1). Builds on: L2.2, L3.1.
Jet-ski distances
ΓΚΛ 20 art. 9(5) keeps jet skis further out than boats:
| Situation | Jet ski must stay at least | Boats (for comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| Beach with bathing buoys | 200 m outside the buoys | 100 m |
| No buoys, swimmers present | 300 m from where swimmers usually reach | 200 m |
| No swimmers | Above 5 kn only beyond 500 m from shore | 5 kn within 200 m |
Worked example: a rented jet ski leaves a platform 250 m off a beach with no swimmers. It is clear of the 200 m buoy rule but still inside 500 m, so it must stay at 5 kn for another 250 m before opening the throttle.
When jet skis may not run
Art. 9(2) bans jet-ski use:
- in adverse weather;
- in rocky sea areas;
- before sunrise and after sunset;
- without a working quick-stop (kill-cord);
- with more riders than the maker allows;
- with engine faults, or with external propellers;
- if anyone aboard lacks a lifejacket;
- from June to September, 14:00 to 17:00, in populated coastal areas whose limits the harbour master sets on the advice of the local committee.
Jet skis may not tow anything (art. 9(4)).
CAUTION — the afternoon ban is local The 14:00–17:00 ban applies only where the harbour master has designated the area, so it varies from beach to beach. Ask the operator; a lawful operator will simply not rent in those hours.
Launching channels
To cross the swimming area, powered craft use a δίαυλος (díavlos, channel), laid out under ΓΚΛ 20 art. 27:
- Rental operators lay channels 7–20 m wide; a public channel for private craft is up to 10 m wide.
- Edges are marked by yellow buoys 3 m apart: conical to starboard, cylindrical to port as you enter from the open sea.
- Channels are at least 300 m apart.
- Move at the lowest possible speed in the channel.
Launching a private boat from a beach without a channel is allowed at ≤3 kn with no swimmers within 100 m either side of your track; if there are swimmers, keep 30 m clear and do no more than 1 kn (art. 30(γ)). From a slipway: no swimmers within 50 m, or a channel running 100 m out.
Rental craft also start from orange mooring buoys placed at least 200 m from the shore and from floating platforms (art. 28).
WARNING — divers below A spear-fishing flag or signal means someone is under water nearby, often surfacing without warning. All vessels and powered craft must stay at least 150 m away (art. 37(1)).
Towed rides and other craft
If you are a passenger rather than a driver, the ages are:
- Banana and ring rides: 16+, younger with consent.
- Water-ski: 16+.
- Parasailing: 18+ (14–18 with parental consent).
- Pedalos and canoes: 15+.
- Kayaks: 18+.
- Inflatable sea playgrounds: 12+ (new in 2026).