You don’t need to know how to swim to flyboard. Everyone will be wearing approved life jackets. Flyboarding does involve having some body control in the water, but your instructor can teach you the needed skills at the beginning.

Learning to flyboard has to be one of the most exhilarating experiences you could ever try. You not only get to be in the water on a hot summer day, but you also get the rush of being up in the air for a few minutes. It’s easier than it looks, and it’s the closest thing to flying I’ve done. However, there are a few things for safety you should know before trying it out. 

Flyboarding is something adventurous all of your family members who are old enough can try out. My wife and kids are championship and record-holding swimmers, but I can’t swim 10 yards. Yet I snorkel, scuba dive and flyboard with all of them because swimming isn’t needed. Here are some more tips to keep in mind for having a safe and fun flyboarding experience.  

Should You Learn to Swim to Use a Flyboard?

Flyboarding is a water sport, but more specifically, open water. It is not a necessity to know how to swim when you flyboard because you will have a life jacket. The PWC driver will also be wearing a life jacket by law. Either way, you will be completely safe as long as you stay away from obstacles and out of main boating channels to prevent getting struck when you fall.

Remember, you will never be further than 100 ft away from the jet ski operator, since that is the longest tubing used for flyboarding.

However, if you are not going with a tour group or, you will want to be sure the driver on the PWC knows rescue procedures and is wearing their life jacket. If no one knows how to swim, it could be a hazardous activity. It will be essential to wear life jackets at all times and abide by any safety rules. 

How to Use a Flyboard Safely

Flyboarding is a new sport, and not everyone will feel comfortable; new dangers are being presented, and that can be scary. You will want to wear a life jacket, and you will want to keep calm. Having a clear mindset that isn’t clouded by fear will be one of the best ways to stay safe during this adventure. Here are some more tips to keep safe during your flyboard trip.

  • Swim– You need to be sure you are swimming far enough away or can be dropped off in a far enough spot. The PWC operator will guide you away from the craft to start. You will also land at some point, and you do not want to be next to the PWC.
  • Trust the Instructor– Before you go out, be sure you have hand signals to indicate what you want and how you’re feeling. The only way to control how high you go is through the water pressure, and you will not be able to do that when you’re 6 feet above the water. The instructor or tour guide is the only person who can control the water pressure. 
  • Directions– Know which knee to lift to go the way you want. The instructor will give you simple directions, and you will need to be calm enough to listen to those directions and remember them. Lifting your right leg will move you to the left, lifting the left leg will transfer you to the right. During all of the excitement, you may forget which way is what, but as long as you calm down and remember the instructions, you will be fine!
  • Landing– If the instructor tells you how to land, be sure to listen to his advice. Sometimes it is not easy to let the water pressure go easy, and it could be nerve-wracking. Remember, you should be wearing a life jacket, and no harm will come to you. Even if you don’t know how to swim, the life jacket will help you float when you land. Feet first will let the board take the hit. If you do end up in a dive, streamline just like in a pool to reduce the hit.

These are just a few tips to keep safe during your flyboard experience. If you go on a tour or pay someone to take you, the instructor will be able to describe in detail everything you need to know. You may also consider fly boarding as a way to earn money with your own jet ski, as we’ve previously posted. You will have a blast!

Who Should Be with You When You Flyboard?

To have a safe experience, you will want to make sure that someone knows how to work the flyboard, who can train you quickly, and knows how to operate the PWC in the needed manner. Flyboarding is still new, so it may take some time to find someone who is a professional and knows how to use it, but this is crucial. 

Do not go out on the water with someone who has never used it before and doesn’t know the safety protocol for using the equipment. This is vital for a safe and fun experience. If no one knows proper safety and techniques, you may also want to steer clear of this activity. 

How Old Do You Have to Be Use a Flyboard?

To be in the water on a flyboard, you have to be 13 years or older. If you are under 16 years old, you will need a parent or guardian to stay with you for safety and legal reasons. Parents must take full responsibility for the outcome of anyone under the age of 16. 

For most places, if you pay for a trip and bring someone under the age of 13, you will not get refunded, and they still won’t be able to go on the flyboard. It is essential to follow these rules and make sure you read all of the requirements for using a flyboard. If someone is older than 13 but small, they may not be able to control the flyboard and will not be able to use it even if the parent is present. 

Is There a Weight Limit For Flyboarding

Like with most activities for flyboarding, there is a weight limit. The maximum you can weigh to use a flyboard is 300 pounds, anything over may mean you can’t get up high enough to enjoy the experience. The minimum weight limit is 100 pounds and a size five shoe in women’s sizes. Anything too small may mean you can’t control the equipment. 

Final Thoughts

Flyboarding is one of the coolest experiences you will want to try out. There is nothing compared to it, but you will want to follow all of the rules. You don’t need to know how to swim, but it involves a lot of open water, and it may help you know how to swim before going on a flyboard.

You probably want to rent a few times before you consider buying equipment. Or train to be an instructor and then purchase one for your own rental business.

You must follow safety rules to have the best trip, and you will want to remain as calm as possible during the whole experience. If you start panicking, that is when things can turn dangerous. Be sure that you are with someone who has the experience and knows what they are doing. You will be sure to have one of the best experiences of your life when you try flyboarding.

Tim Conner, M.D. started boating in 1974. He has been involved in recreational boating continuously since then. Dr. Conner has been active in boating and watersports safety education for decades.

He rode his first jet ski in 1997, and rejoined the personal watercraft arena in 2012 with a Sea-Doo GTX 155, followed by 2 supercharged SeaDoos. Scuba certification came in 1988, and he and the family have traveled the world snorkeling and scuba diving for decades. The family has recently taken up paddle boarding, with wakeboards and kitesurfing the next challenges for my adult kids. See the About page for more.