Life Jackets for Children on Phu Quoc Speedboats

Children should wear a life jacket on a Phu Quoc speedboat, and operators and local sources advise wearing it for the whole crossing, not only when the crew hands it out. Check that the boat carries child sizes, not only adult ones, and test the fit before you leave. If no child size is offered, ask the operator before you pay.

Do children have to wear life jackets on a speedboat?

Local sources advise that everyone wears a life jacket during speedboat transport, and children are no exception.

Wear a life jacket during speedboat transport, in rough seas, when changing boats and while snorkelling. Visitors should wear it for the whole crossing, not just when the crew hands it out. Boats must carry enough life jackets and rescue equipment, and local sources report that police fine boats that do not.

Operators and local sources report these points, and the rules may change. Confirm the current rule on WhatsApp or on the beach.

For the wider picture on capacity, crew and weather, see speedboat safety in Phu Quoc: what to check.

Are child sizes and infant sizes available?

Not on every boat, so ask before you pay and do not assume.

Local sources advise checking that the boat carries child-size life vests, not only adult sizes. Some operators say life jackets are included in the tour, but included does not mean the right size. Sizes vary by boat and by operator, and we have no confirmed information on infant sizes, so ask directly.

Use these questions when you book:

• Do you have life jackets in a child’s size?
• How tall and how heavy is the child, and does the size fit? (Give the operator the exact figures.)
• Is there an infant size, and is it suitable for a baby on a speedboat?
• Will the crew check the fit before we leave?

If you have a baby or toddler, ask the operator directly whether a speedboat trip suits the child at all. A slower boat may be a better choice. Our family boat day trip page covers how we help families plan.

How do I check that a child’s life jacket fits?

Choose the correct size, fasten every strap and check that the jacket is snug but comfortable.

Local sources warn that a loose or incorrectly worn life jacket may not give proper support. Use this short test:

1. Fasten all straps and buckles, including any crotch strap if there is one.
2. Pull up gently on the shoulders. If the jacket rides up toward the ears, it is too big.
3. Check that the child can breathe and move their arms normally.
4. Ask the crew to adjust it, and check again before the boat moves.

Teach the child to keep the jacket on, even when the water looks flat. Make sure they, and you, know where the life jackets are stored and how to use them correctly.

What if no child size is offered?

Do not accept an adult jacket that hangs loose. Ask for the right size, or choose another boat.

Here is a sensible order:

1. Ask the crew whether a child-size jacket is on board or can be fetched before departure.
2. If not, ask the operator whether another boat or another departure has the right sizes.
3. If still no suitable jacket is offered, it is reasonable to postpone and rebook rather than board.
4. Message us on WhatsApp. We arrange it with local partners and can ask for child sizes in the booking.

Do not let a child on a moving speedboat without a jacket that fits. A small delay costs less than the risk.

What are the rules while snorkelling with children?

Wear the life vest in the water too, and start somewhere shallow.

Local sources advise wearing a life jacket while snorkelling. Children can snorkel with a life vest at a shallow site, and Turtle Island is described as the gentlest introduction. Shallow water is a better first snorkel than the deeper outer sites, and a buoyancy vest lets a non-swimmer float face-down and look around, so most nervousness disappears within minutes.

Some points to ask about:

• Age. We have no confirmed minimum age, and it differs by operator. Tell the operator how old the child is and how well they swim, and ask whether snorkelling suits them.
• Gear. Masks and snorkels are provided in some tours, but fins are not available in children’s sizes on some boats. Ask what is available.
• Timing. Mornings are calmer, which matters more for a nervous swimmer than for anyone else.
• Sun. Sun on the back while face-down is the most common way people get burned, so a rash guard is advised.
• Getting in and out. Getting in and out of the boat is harder than swimming. Ask whether the boat can beach or has a shallow entry, because a ladder in a slight swell is hard.

What to do next

Before the day, tell the operator your child’s age, height, weight and swimming level, and ask them to confirm in writing that a suitable jacket will be on board. On the morning, check the fit yourself before the boat leaves the pier.

Write your child’s height, weight and swimming level in your WhatsApp message, and ask for a confirmed size. Then read speedboat safety in Phu Quoc, and look at the family boat day trip with children page. If you have chosen a private boat, run through the private boat check before you board.