Your phone on a jet ski: how to carry it without losing it at sea
To carry your phone on a jet ski without losing it, put it in a floating case and wear it on a lanyard. Your phone handles water because it’s IP68, but if it gets flung off out at sea it sinks and there’s no way to get it back. With a CORK case it stays on the surface and all you have to do is turn round and fetch it.
You’re crossing the bay at full throttle, a wave lifts the bow and the jet ski lands on its side. You go down with it. When you climb back on and pat your pocket, your phone isn’t there. Behind you there’s nothing but foam and your wake.
Why a jet ski is such a bad place for your phone
Few activities combine so many ways of losing it.
- Speed. Anything that isn’t properly secured gets flung off when you hit a wave or turn hard.
- Falls. They’re part of the fun, and when you fall into the water, everything you’re carrying falls with you.
- Distance. By the time you notice, slow down and turn round, you’re already far from where it fell.
- Open sea. There’s a lot of depth under the jet ski, and the water hides whatever sinks.
What IP68 covers and what it doesn’t
The iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models we make the CORK case for are IP68. They can get wet and fall into the water without being damaged, because the rating covers immersion. A fall isn’t a problem if you get it out quickly.
What it doesn’t cover is the seabed. The rating covers immersion at shallow depth and for a limited time, around half an hour. Out at sea the bottom is much further down, pressure rises by roughly one atmosphere every 10 metres and time is against you.
A phone loses its IP68 rating if it’s been repaired with non-original parts. You’ll find the details in what IP68 means on your phone.
A case that keeps it afloat
The CORK case doesn’t stop your phone getting wet. With it on, water reaches the phone and it copes because it’s IP68. What changes is what happens after the fall: your phone floats.
It floats thanks to the cork and a fitting technology that holds the phone perfectly in the case. It’s cut to size for each phone, laser engraved, finished with protective resin and made in Spain. If it doesn’t float, we refund your money.
If you also wear it on a neon lanyard, green or yellow, it stands out more in the foam when you turn round. And when you’re done, there’s no need to dry the case or do anything special to it: if it gets wet, a cloth is all it takes.
Slim or Extreme on a jet ski
Both float the same. The choice depends on how you go out on the water.
If you go out often, the Cork Slim. Same safety, smaller size. It’s the smallest floating case ever made, comes in a choice of designs and is lighter for everyday use. It suits people who keep their jet ski in the marina and go out every weekend, or who work at sea. It’s available for iPhone 15 to 17 and Samsung Galaxy S24 to S26.
If you go flat out and jump waves, the Cork Extreme. It’s bigger and more impact resistant: safety you can feel. It’s designed for people who take their phone on the most active adventures on the water, jumps and falls included. It’s available for iPhone 12 to 17 and Samsung Galaxy S24 to S26.
Find your model among the CORK floating cases for iPhone or the CORK floating cases for Samsung Galaxy and choose the one that suits the way you ride.
How to carry your phone on a jet ski
- Case on before you leave the pontoon. Once you’re on the water, changing it is one more chance for it to fall in.
- Hanging or stowed, never loose. Wear it on a lanyard or keep it in the jet ski’s storage compartment while you ride. Not on the seat or in an open pocket.
- Stop to film. With the engine idling and both hands free, your phone is at far less risk.
- If you fall off, look before you set off. Look around you before you accelerate again. With the case on, if your phone has fallen in, it’ll be floating.
- Rinse your phone when you’re done. Rinse it with fresh water so the salt doesn’t stay in the charging port or the speakers.
For the boat and the beach, have a look at phone cases for the beach. If you also paddle or fish: your phone on a kayak or paddleboard and the phone case for fishing.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take your phone on a jet ski?
Yes. Your phone is IP68 and can handle getting wet and falling into the water, because the rating covers immersion at shallow depth and for a limited time. The risk is it falling in out at sea and sinking to a depth you can’t reach, and that’s why it’s worth having it float.
Does the CORK case stop my phone getting wet?
No. The case isn’t sealed: your phone gets wet with it on and copes because it’s IP68. What the case does is keep it afloat so you can pick it up.
Which CORK case is best for a jet ski?
If you go out often, the Slim: same safety, smaller size and lighter for everyday use. If you go flat out and jump waves, the Extreme, which is bigger and more impact resistant. Both float the same.
What should I do with my phone after a ride?
Rinse it with fresh water to get the salt out of the charging port and the speakers. If it warns of liquid or moisture in the port, don’t charge it until it’s dry. To dry it, Apple recommends tapping it gently with the port facing down and leaving it somewhere dry and well ventilated, without rice or heat sources.
