The RYA Personal Watercraft (PWC) Proficiency: the jet ski ticket for crew who run the guest toys.
Superyachts carry a garage full of toys, and crew are expected to launch, drive and supervise them safely. The RYA Personal Watercraft (PWC/jet ski) Proficiency covers exactly that: safe operation, launching and recovery, and guest supervision. It's short, practical and pairs naturally with a powerboat ticket. Here are RYA centres that run it, led by Flying Fish.
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My own starting point. I trained with Flying Fish back in 2018. Purpose-built superyacht training base on the water in Cowes, RYA Training Centre and MCA-approved, with one of the widest course ranges in the UK: STCW, deckhand and interior packages right through to Yachtmaster. Onsite accommodation can be booked directly with them at a good price alongside your course. Book online and hold a place for 48 hours.
Southampton RYA Training Centre offering entry-level superyacht deckhand packages.
RYA Recognised Training Centre. Based in Portsmouth.
Antibes-based, MCA and RYA approved, right in the heart of the French Riviera crew hub.
RYA. Based in Palma de Mallorca.
Palma RYA Yachtmaster school, long established in the Med and known for its practical mile-building.
MCA Approved, RYA Recognised Training Centre, RYA Exam Centre. Based in Hamble.
Large charity-run academy in Cowes, MCA-approved and an RYA Training Centre, also running full cadetship pathways for crew who want the professional route.
This is our shortlist. See every provider offering RYA PWC Proficiency in the full RYA PWC Proficiency directory →
Want to see the prices side by side? Compare prices from 4 schools for RYA PWC Proficiency.
Looking wider? See our best RYA powerboat courses →
PWC and RIB training was also part of the same Flying Fish deckhand package. It pairs naturally with the powerboat course, learning to handle the guest toys safely and supervise them, which ends up being a genuine part of a deckhand's day to day once you're on a boat with charter guests aboard.
For PWC training:
Short, practical, and one of those tickets that pays off the moment guests are aboard and want to use the toys.
A PWC (Personal Watercraft) course is the RYA jet ski qualification, covering safe operation, launching and guest supervision, useful for crew responsible for a yacht's water toys.
Requirements vary by flag and location, but most yachts expect crew operating PWCs to hold the RYA PWC certificate, and some coastal areas legally require it.
It is a short practical course, usually one day, and is often taken alongside RYA Powerboat Level 2.
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