Longterm jet ski rider George Marquis says riders need to 'obey the law and get out and have lots of fun'. Credit:Luis Ascui Maritime Safety Victoria director Peter Corcoran said jet-skis were becoming increasingly popular, but the "behaviour of some of the operators" around busy waterways and popular swimming beaches was a problem. "We are concerned about a recent spate of incidents, collisions resulting in serious injuries, and in particular children not complying with their restricted operating conditions," Mr Corcoran said. "[And] some PWC operators, specifically, not complying with five knots within 200 metres of shore and five knots within 50 metres of other vessels or people in the water." He said authorities were considering introducing a practical test which would bring Victoria up to the requirements found in some other states.

George Marquis on his jet ski off Mordialloc. Credit:Luis Ascui In Victoria, jet-ski riders, or Personal Watercraft operators, must hold a general marine licence and sit an additional knowledge test to receive a PWC endorsement. The test is multiple choice and assesses the applicant's knowledge of safe vessel operation. Marquis says practical testing of new operators will make the Victorian waterways safer. Credit:Luis Ascui Children aged 12 to 16 years get a restricted license prohibiting them from towing anyone or anything, operating at night and at speeds above 10 knots.

In Queensland, riders have to show they can manoeuvre the jet-ski, including being able to launch, retrieve, turn and stop the craft, before being allowed on the water. Currently, there are 236,500 people with a licence to operate jet-skis in Victoria – more than in either Queensland or NSW. The figure includes about 6500 children on restricted licences. Since 2013, the number of registered jet-skis in the state has also jumped about 10 per cent to nearly 20,000. Australian Jet Ski Association president Mandy Brown said Victorian riders needed to be tested on the water before being allowed to ride the powerful machine at popular beaches.

She said younger jet-skiers, in particular, should come under more scrutiny. "Look at what a motor bike rider goes through to get a motor bike licence," Ms Brown said. "They are put through hours and hours of practical testing, they are then given a probationary licence to ride a very low-powered motor bike. "By contrast, children in Victoria are given a piece of paper to say go and take 300 horsepower for a ride among our swimmers. "And they wonder why they have a problem."

Ms Brown said the lack of practical testing was "horrifically dangerous". "The reality is there are deaths occurring out there," she said. "Practical licensing will stop swimmers getting hit. "Right now swimmers are close to getting hit all the time by these 16-year-olds getting a licence to ride a 300 horsepower jet ski, playing off the shore among the swimmers. "[The machine] is a 400 kilogram piece of fibreglass that will just crack your head like an egg."

However, Australian Jet Sports Boating Association spokesman Peter Hunter said the practical test should not be limited to jet skiers and include all leisure boat operators. "It has to be across the whole board; it has to be all boating activities," Mr Hunter said. "They can't just single out jet skies. If they just plan on targeting personal water crafts then that is not right." He said practical testing alone wouldn't change bad behaviour; jet skiers needed to be educated about how to share the waterways. A spokeswoman for the Acting Minister for Roads and Ports Philip Dalidakis said the government was working with industry and the community to review licensing requirements around watercraft.

Victoria Water Police Senior Sergeant Lachlan Holding said PWC operators needed to be familiar with the designated "No Boating Zones" and "Swim Zones" with reduced speed limits. George Marquis, who has been riding for 16 years, said most operators did the right thing. But he said he had witnessed dangerous behaviour, including riders speeding in low-speed zones and not maintaining the required distance from others. "We want to make sure people are actually tested [that they get an] an on-water test," Mr Marquis said. "By doing that, they can show they have the right skills and the right attitude to obey the law and get out and have lots of fun."