Quick answer
A practical operator's guide to keeping a non-swimming child safe on a boat trip in Side and along the Antalya coast: life jacket on at all times, an adult within arm's reach at every stop, calm water, and always telling the crew. Includes a situation-vs-action table and our family-suitable tours.
A non-swimming child stays safe on a boat trip when four things are true at once: a fitted child life jacket is worn from boarding to disembarking, an adult stays within arm's reach at every swim stop, the water is calm rather than open and choppy, and the crew knows the child cannot swim. We run these boats, and this is how we ask families to approach it. Browse our family boat trips in Side to pick a calm option.
Life jacket on, from boarding to the last stop
The single most important rule is the simplest one: the jacket goes on and stays on. Not just in the water, but on deck too, because most on-board incidents with young children happen with a stumble or a lurch, not during a planned swim. We carry life jackets including child sizes on every boat, so ask the crew for the right size the moment you board and check the fit before you leave the harbour.
A jacket that is too big rides up over a child's chin and does the opposite of its job. It should sit snug at the shoulders with the straps done up firmly. Lift gently at the shoulders once it is on — if it slides up past the ears, it is too loose or too large. Our captains would far rather re-fit a jacket at the dock than deal with a problem at sea.
Fit checklist before you leave the harbour
- Straps done up and pulled snug, not left dangling.
- No gap at the shoulders when you lift the jacket upward.
- Child can move their arms and breathe comfortably.
- Jacket stays on for the whole trip, deck included, not only in the sea.
Stay within arm's reach at every swim stop
A life jacket keeps a child afloat; it does not watch them. Supervision is the parent's job, and on our trips parents must supervise their own children in the water. At a swim stop that means being in the sea or in the freshwater with the child, close enough to take an arm in one movement — arm's reach, not "watching from the deck".
Non-swimmers panic quickly and quietly. There is rarely the shouting or splashing you see in films; a struggling child often goes still and vertical. Staying alongside removes the guesswork. If you have more than one non-swimming child, bring more than one adult, or take turns so each child always has someone within reach.
Choose calm water over open, choppy sea
Where you swim matters as much as how you supervise. Calm, sheltered water is far kinder to a nervous non-swimmer than an open Mediterranean swim stop with swell and boat traffic. This is where the choice of trip does real work.
Our Green Canyon boat tour (from EUR28) runs on calm freshwater rather than open sea. It is flat, there is no seasickness, and it suits families and non-swimmers well. One honest caveat: the water is genuinely cold, so it is more of a paddle-and-dip than a long swim for small children — bring a towel and something warm for afterwards. For very young children specifically, the Little Pirates boat trip (from EUR20) is built around them.
If you would rather keep the sea time short, the Side dolphin island boat tour (from EUR21) is a shorter day on the water, and the Side relax boat trip with waterfall is a quieter option again. Browse the calmer family choices among our boat trips from Side and match the trip to your child, not the other way around.
Tell the crew — before you leave, not after
Our captains adjust how they run a swim stop when they know a non-swimmer is aboard. So tell them. A quick word as you board — "she can't swim, he's nervous of deep water" — lets the crew keep an eye out, point you to the calmest spot, and time the stops sensibly. It costs nothing and it changes how the whole day is watched over.
The same applies to anything else your family needs. If you have dietary requirements or baby needs, tell us when you book and we will confirm what a given boat can do. Shade varies from boat to boat, so if you are travelling with a small child in high summer, ask about cover before you choose — we would rather set the right expectation than have you find out at midday.
Which of our trips suits a non-swimming child?
There is no single "safest" boat trip — there is the one that matches your child's age and confidence. Here is how our family-suitable trips line up.
| Trip | Best for | Water | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Canyon boat tour | Families and non-swimmers wanting flat, calm water | Freshwater, calm, cold | EUR28 |
| Little Pirates boat trip | Young children | Sea | EUR20 |
| Side dolphin island boat tour | Families wanting a shorter sea day | Sea | EUR21 |
| Side pirate boat tour | Older, more confident kids who like animation | Sea, lively | EUR23 |
| Private VIP boat | Families wanting the boat to themselves | Sea, private | Per boat, on request |
These are approximate 2026 starting bands per person; the live price is always on the tour page. Green Canyon runs roughly EUR28–54 depending on options, and the private VIP boat is priced per boat on request. Ready to pick one? Open the tour page for the trip that fits your family and check the day's price and details.
Situation vs action: what to do in the moment
Keep this in mind on the day. It is the whole guide in one place.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Boarding the boat | Ask the crew for a child-size life jacket and fit it before leaving the harbour. |
| Life jacket rides up to the chin | It is too loose or too big — tighten the straps or ask for a smaller size. |
| On deck, underway | Keep the jacket on and keep the child seated or held, not roaming near the sides. |
| Swim stop announced | Get in with the child; stay within arm's reach the whole time. |
| Two or more non-swimmers | One adult per child, or take turns so each has someone close. |
| Child cannot swim | Tell the crew as you board so they can plan the stops around you. |
| Green Canyon's cold water | Treat it as a short dip; bring a towel and warm layer for afterwards. |
| Unsure about shade or baby needs | Ask before booking, or tell us at booking and confirm on the tour page. |
Getting there: transfers and booking
Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel. That means one less thing to organise on a family morning — you are collected, you sail, you are brought back. You book online and pay on the tour day, so there is no rush to commit before you have read the details.
If your child is nervous, choose the calmest trip first, put the jacket on early, and let the day build their confidence rather than testing it. A good first boat trip is the one a non-swimming child remembers fondly — and comes back for.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have child-size life jackets on board?
Yes. We carry life jackets including child sizes on every boat. Ask the crew for the right size as you board and check the fit before you leave the harbour. A jacket that rides up to the chin is too big, so do not settle for the first one handed to you if it does not sit snug at the shoulders.
Which boat trip is best for a non-swimming child?
For the calmest water, our Green Canyon boat tour runs on flat freshwater rather than open sea, which suits non-swimmers well — just note the water is cold. For very young children, the Little Pirates trip is built around them, and the Side dolphin island tour gives a shorter sea day. Match the trip to your child's age and confidence and check the details on each tour page.
Will the crew supervise my child in the water?
No — supervision is the parent's job, and parents must stay with their own children in the water. Our captains run the swim stop and will point you to the calmest spot, especially if you tell them a non-swimmer is aboard, but an adult must stay within arm's reach of the child throughout. The life jacket keeps a child afloat; it does not watch them.
Can you cater for baby or dietary needs?
Tell us when you book and we will confirm what a particular boat can offer. Shade and facilities vary from boat to boat, so we would rather check for you than promise something in general. Please confirm the specifics on the tour page for the trip you choose, and flag anything important at the time of booking.
How does hotel pickup work?
Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel. You book online and pay on the tour day, so you can read the tour page in full before committing. Have your hotel name ready at booking so we can arrange the transfer.
Choose a calm trip, keep the jacket on, stay within arm's reach, and tell our crew — that is a safe, easy day for a non-swimming child. Browse our family boat trips in Side and pick the one that suits your family.