Quick answer
How life jackets work on our Side boat trips: adult and child sizes carried on board, where they are kept, when to wear one, and honest guidance for non-swimmers. Includes an adult vs child vs non-swimmer comparison table and FAQs.
Yes — every boat we run carries life jackets on board, including child sizes, as required of licensed commercial tour boats in Turkey. They're kept in an accessible spot the crew will point out, and our captains give a short safety briefing before you set off. You needn't wear one the whole trip, but if you're nervous in water, put one on at every swim stop.
What the rules mean in practice on our boats
Licensed commercial tour boats in Turkey are required to carry safety equipment — life jackets and first aid — and be operated by qualified crew. That's the baseline every boat in our fleet works to. When you book one of our boat trips in Side, you're stepping onto a boat that has this equipment on board and a captain whose job includes keeping guests safe in the water and out of it.
We won't quote regulation numbers or certificate codes at you, because the exact paperwork varies by vessel and we'd rather be honest than invent detail. What we can tell you plainly: the jackets are there, the child sizes are there, and the crew knows where everything is. If you want the specifics for one particular boat, ask us or check the tour page before you book.
Adult and child sizes are both carried
Our boats carry life jackets in adult sizes and smaller child sizes. If you're travelling with little ones, you don't need to bring your own — though if your child is very small, or you have a jacket you trust and prefer, you're welcome to pack it. On family-focused trips such as the Little Pirates boat tour, the crew is used to working with children and will help fit a jacket properly.
A jacket only works if it fits. Too loose and it rides up over the chin in the water; too tight and it's uncomfortable and kids fidget out of it. Ask a crew member to check the fit — that's exactly what they're there for. If the size on board isn't right for your child, tell us before you book so we can advise on the specific boat.
Where the life jackets are kept
Life jackets are stored in an accessible location on the boat — commonly in lockers under the seating, in a marked storage area, or on racks near the deck. Every boat is laid out a little differently, so rather than guess, our captains show guests where the jackets are during the safety briefing at the start of the trip. If you board and you're not sure, ask straight away; nobody will mind, and it's better to know before you're in open water.
On our shared trips the crew gives this briefing to the whole group. On a private boat trip from Side, the same applies — the captain runs through safety with your group directly, at a pace that suits you.
When should you actually wear one?
You won't spend a sunny cruise zipped into a life jacket, and we don't ask you to. In calm conditions, sitting on deck, most confident swimmers keep the jacket to hand rather than on. The moment to put one on is at the swim stops, especially if you're not a strong swimmer, and any time the captain asks you to — for example if the open sea picks up some swell.
Our swimming stops are supervised and the boats have ladders to get you in and out of the water. That supervision doesn't replace a life jacket for a non-swimmer; it works alongside it. Read on for our honest guidance by swimmer type.
Adult vs child vs non-swimmer: honest guidance
Here's how we'd advise different guests. This is general guidance for our trips — always follow the specific instructions your captain gives on the day.
| Guest | Life jacket on our boats | When to wear it | What we'd add |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confident adult swimmer | Available on board, adult size | Optional in calm water; wear if the captain advises or the sea gets choppy | Still enter the water only at supervised stops, using the ladder |
| Child | Child sizes carried; crew helps fit | At every swim stop, and on deck if you prefer the reassurance | Check the fit is snug; keep children within arm's reach in the water |
| Non-swimmer / nervous swimmer | Available on board | At every swim stop, on before you reach the ladder | Tell the crew you're not confident — they'll keep an eye on you |
If you're travelling as a family with a mix of these, the calm freshwater of Green Canyon is often the easiest first swim of the trip.
Calm water vs open sea
Conditions change how relaxed you'll feel in the water, and they change our advice. The Green Canyon boat tour runs on calm freshwater — no waves and no seasickness — which is why it's a favourite for families and anyone who wants a gentle swim. The Side relax boat trip with a waterfall keeps things easy-going too.
Out on the open Mediterranean, you can get some swell. It's nothing our boats and captains aren't built for, but it's exactly the kind of moment where a life jacket makes sense for weaker swimmers. If sea conditions are a concern for someone in your group, a calm-water trip is the safer starting point — and you can browse everything leaving your resort from our boat trips from Side hub.
Prices and how booking works
As a rough guide for 2026, per-person starting bands are around EUR 20–25 for sea trips, EUR 28–54 for Green Canyon and EUR 42–68 for Suluada; private boats are priced per boat on request. These are bands only — the live price is always on the tour page. Safety equipment, including life jackets, is part of running a licensed boat and isn't a paid extra.
You book online and pay on the tour day. A hotel transfer is arranged: guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel. Pick your trip and reserve your seats on the tours page whenever you're ready.
Frequently asked questions
Do your boats carry child-size life jackets?
Yes. Our boats carry life jackets in both adult and smaller child sizes, and the crew will help you fit a child's jacket properly. If your child is very small, or you'd prefer to bring your own, you're welcome to — and if you want to confirm sizing for a specific boat, ask us before you book.
Do I have to wear a life jacket the whole trip?
No. In calm conditions on deck you don't need to wear one. We recommend wearing a jacket at every swim stop if you're a non-swimmer or nervous in water, and any time the captain asks — for instance if the open sea gets a bit of swell.
Where are the life jackets kept on the boat?
They're stored in an accessible spot — often under-seat lockers, a marked storage area, or deck racks, depending on the boat. Every vessel is laid out slightly differently, so our captains show guests exactly where they are during the safety briefing at the start of the trip.
I can't swim — can I still come on a boat trip?
Absolutely — plenty of our guests aren't swimmers. Tell the crew when you board so they can keep an eye on you, wear a life jacket at the swim stops, and consider a calm-water trip like Green Canyon for your first swim. Swimming stops are supervised and the boats have ladders.
Is there other safety equipment on board?
Licensed commercial tour boats in Turkey are required to carry safety equipment such as life jackets and first aid, and to be run by qualified crew. That's the standard our boats work to. For the exact equipment on a particular boat, ask us or check the specific tour page.
Ready to book?
We run these boats every season across Side, Manavgat, Antalya, Alanya, Belek and Kemer, and our captains take safety seriously so you can relax and enjoy the water. If you're weighing up which trip suits your group — swimmers, non-swimmers, kids and all — browse the full range of boat trips in Side, check the live price and pickup details on the tour page, and book online with payment on the day.