Riding a thrill craft on the open water is a little like "riding a motorcycle on water, with the possibilities of not hitting hard ground," enthusiast Sam Pa'e said.

It's one of the many benefits of thrill crafts, more commonly known as Kawasaki Jet Skis or Yamaha WaveRunners.

"Some people get the satisfaction of just being at peace with yourself out on the ocean," Pa'e said. "That's what draws me out there."

It also offers the chance to see marine wildlife and enjoy Hawai'i's beauty.

"Just being in the ocean, having the opportunity to see turtles, sometimes you run into some dolphins," Pa'e said. "And instead of looking from land out to the ocean, you are looking at mountain ranges ... Ko'olaus."

It can be even more fulfilling when you know how to do it right. A law passed last year mandates that anyone operating a thrill craft must pass a class to learn and understand the rules, both culturally and legally. Pa'e, a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, is an instructor for the class.

SAFETY TIPS

DO

1. Leave behind a float plan, which includes your trip plans and passengers. Also leave behind information about your thrill craft, including its state registration number.

2. Have a personal floatation device (life jacket), fire extinguisher, proper ventilation, and sound producing devices on your thrillcraft.

3. Know about Designated Ocean Recreation Management Areas (ORMA's) and Non-designated Ocean Recreation Management Areas. In non-designated areas off the islands of Kaua'i, O'ahu, Maui, and Hawai'i, recreational (i.e. non-commercial) thrill craft may operate in state waters only from 500 feet from the shore line (or outer edge of a fringing reef) to 2 miles off shore.

DON'T

1. Drink and ride.

2. Operate a thrill craft if you are younger than 15.

3. Take your thrill craft in a marine life conservatory district or marine natural area reserve. Go to www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/ to look for exactly where they are.

REMEMBER

1. Thrill craft shall proceed at a speed of slow/no wake (no "white" water in the path of the thrill craft) while within 300 feet of the shore line.

2. Thrill craft shall proceed at a speed of slow/no wake within 200 feet of any float, dock, launching ramp, congested beach, swimmer, diver's flag or anchored, moored or drifting vessel.

3. On Jan. 1, 2005, a law was passed: "All recreational thrill craft operators shall be required to possess, and make available upon demand of enforcement personnel, a certificate of completion from an accredited institution of higher education on the safe use and operation of a thrill craft" (section 13-256-16)

Source: Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai'i

The features will run weekly except when there are more time-sensitive articles.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.