Jet skis, eFoils and water toys in the Caribbean: what is allowed

In the Bahamas and in Antigua, jet skis may not be ridden after dark, and every rider wears a life jacket. St Barths goes furthest: its nature reserve bans jet skis, Seabobs, electric surfboards and towed toys. That is the only rule we found that names electric boards; elsewhere in the Caribbean, eFoils and jetboards have no rule of their own.

Six destinations are covered: the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Antigua and Barbuda, the French side of St Martin (Saint-Martin), the Dutch side (Sint Maarten) and St Barths. Every point below links to the official source or the managing body of the protected area.

What are the jet ski rules in the Bahamas?

• Life jacket and darkness: anyone riding a jet ski wears a securely fastened flotation device approved by the Port Controller, and jet skis may not be ridden during the hours of darkness. Breaking either rule costs $1,000 to $5,000 (Water Skiing and Motor Boat Control Act, s. 6A).
• Age: in the areas covered by the act, no one under 16 may drive a motor boat with more than 10 horsepower, with exceptions from 14 (s. 7).
• Near the shore: no motor boats or water skiing within 200 feet of the shoreline in the areas covered, except at up to 3 knots on a direct line to the shore or a mooring (s. 3).
• Water skiing: every skier wears a flotation aid, a lookout aged 16 or over rides in the towing boat in addition to the driver, and no skiing after dark (s. 6).
• Exuma Park: jet skis stay at least 300 yards from any moored or anchored vessel, and go at idle speed in mooring fields and anchorages (Bahamas National Trust).

The rules for commercial rental do not cover a yacht's own toys, but show the standard: renters must be over 18, no alcohol or drugs (Port Department notice, 6 March 2026); rental craft keep 100 feet from dive flags and 200 feet offshore, and do not run from sunset to sunrise (Commercial Recreational Watercraft Regulations, reg. 7).

Tenders over 25 feet cost $500 each since 1 July 2025 (Port Department).

What are the jet ski rules in Antigua and Barbuda?

• No riding at night: personal watercraft may not be used between sunset and sunrise. The regulation lists jet skis, canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, rowboats, sailboards and kiteboards (Small Craft (Control) Regulations 2017, reg. 17).
• Kill switch: the rider fastens the safety lanyard to the life jacket or wrist (reg. 18).
• Age: no one under 16 may drive a power craft (reg. 19).
• Life jackets: everyone on a jet ski, and anyone towed by one, wears a life jacket at all times (SCC Code, no. 17).
• Distances: max. 5 knots within 75 metres of the shore, 50 metres beyond the edge of a designated swimming area, and no closer than 15 metres to another vessel unless at 5 knots or less (reg. 7 and 24).
• National park: motor boats, water skiing equipment and diving equipment need the Parks Commissioner's written permission (National Parks Regulations 2012, reg. 12(1)).

Toys from a visiting yacht need no licence of their own, but must comply with the Small Craft (Control) Regulations and the SCC Code (ADOMS Marine Notice 2017-01). Inflatable self-propelled water toys not designed for open water are exempt from the equipment requirements (SCC Code).

Where are jet skis and water toys banned?

In the Marigot mooring field, a yacht's motorised tender may be used, at the user's own risk (ZMEL regulation, Art. 18).

What about eFoils and jetboards?

St Barths is the only destination where a rule names them: "surf électriques", electric surfboards, are banned in the nature reserve together with jet skis and Seabobs (ATE). The same sentence bans any craft with electric propulsion, so an eFoil or jetboard is covered either way.

In the Bahamas, the BVI, Antigua, Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten, we found no rule of their own for eFoils or jetboards. Whether the jet ski or motor boat rules apply to them, the sources do not say. The protected-area bans on motorised water sports in Saint-Martin's mooring field and in Sint Maarten's marine park are worded broadly enough that we would not launch an electric board there.

What about underwater scooters?

Seabobs are named in the St Barths reserve ban. Saint-Martin's nature reserve bans motorised individual underwater craft for recreation. In BVI parks, landing or leaving underwater craft needs the National Parks Trust's permission, and in Antigua's national park so does diving equipment. Outside these areas, no rule of their own was found.

What is still open?

• BVI: our research came across a jet ski ban, but found no official source for it, so it is not listed above.
• Saint-Martin: the prefectoral order 2018-116 on the coastal strip (reportedly 5 knots within 300 metres) could not be read.
• Sint Maarten: jet ski and speed rules outside the lagoon and the marine park: no official source found.
• St Barths: the harbour police regulation of Gustavia could not be read.

Before guests ride, ask the harbour office or your agent.

How does the Caribbean compare with the Mediterranean?

France has a category of its own for eFoils and jetboards, with daylight use only within 2 miles of a shelter (our Côte d'Azur guide). Italy bans hydrofoil craft only at Punta Campanella (our Italy guide), and Spain has classed motorised boards as artefactos flotantes, licence-free from 18 since 1 October 2026 (our jetboard licence guide). In the Caribbean, St Barths is the clearest case: its reserve names electric surfboards. The other islands regulate jet skis but leave electric boards unnamed.

What should be on board before guests ride?

• Life jackets for every jet ski rider and passenger, and for anyone towed.
• Kill-switch lanyards fastened to the rider in Antigua.
• Daylight only for jet skis in the Bahamas and Antigua.
• Age checks: 16 in Antigua for any power craft; in the Bahamas, 16 for motor boats over 10 horsepower in the areas covered.
• A plan for where not to ride: the St Barths and Saint-Martin reserves, the Marigot mooring field, Sint Maarten's marine park and, with the 300-yard rule, Exuma Park.

Sources

All sources are official texts of the authorities and the managing bodies of the protected areas, checked on 7 October 2026 and linked at each point above. The Saint-Martin order 2018-116 and the Gustavia harbour police regulation were not accessible. For Sint Maarten, the Nature Foundation's summary of the park rules is cited.