Water Safety Bay of Plenty encouraging vessel owners to get educated

If you register for a Coastguard membership, you're also eligible to receive $100 off a Day Skipper Course. Photo / Supplied

With an increase in new boat and jet ski owners in the past few years, Water Safety Bay of Plenty is encouraging vessel owners to enrol in Coastguard Boating Education courses.

"Improving your knowledge is never a bad investment," regional water safety strategy manager Dave White said.

"CBE run some fantastic courses and they're all available online so you can do them when it suits you."

The Day Skipper course is the most popular and it's suitable for a range of vessels, teaching skippers everything from handling techniques and navigation, to regulations and knots.

"We highly recommend the Day Skipper course to all jet ski and vessel owners," White said.

"Currently, if you register for a Coastguard membership, you're also eligible to receive $100 off a Day Skipper Course."

The encouragement to enrol comes from an influx in new boat and jet ski owners seen in the Rotorua region.

"We also had our summer cut short last season as a result of the first lockdown so it's likely that everyone will start hitting the water as the warmer weather arrives."

To find out more about the Day Skipper course and other Coastguard Boating Education courses, head to boatingeducation.org.nz.