THE SKIPPERS of Pembrokeshire's only jet boat are retiring this month but are hoping that their stepping down from the helm will not be the end of the Pembrokeshire line for their beloved vessel.

Beth Swan and her husband Tim Brooke have 70 years combined experience manoeuvring these unique boats round the St Davids coastline.

They began working for Shaun White of Ocean Dynamics in the 1980s. Shaun was the first person in the UK to use rigid inflatable boats (RIBS) for wildlife tours, before this they had only been used as military and rescue boats. The company designed and built from scratch, aluminium hulled RIBS which were driven by jets especially imported from New Zealand.

The company, who Bethan and Tim worked for for 20 years, ran its own wildlife expeditions under the name Thousand Islands with Bethan being the first woman to get her skipper's license in Pembrokeshire.

When the tourism arm of business went on the market in 2003 most the jet boats were sold abroad. Bethan and Tim bought the last remaining boat, Shearwater, and set up Venture Jet.

"These boats have been a part of people's holiday memories for 30 years," said Beth. "Many of our passengers visit us every year so first came out with us as children and are now bringing their own children.

The boat's unique design and Hamilton jet allows it to move in ways which are impossible with outboard motors, including jet boat spins and doughnuts. The lack of propellers also makes the boat an ideal safety boat around swimmers and wildlife.

"This unusual manoeuvrability also enables us to explore challenging caves and coastline inaccessible to conventional boats," said Beth.

"Our trips are designed around the unique abilities of the boat giving it a fun twist and offering an experience in Pembrokeshire unique in the UK.

"We've been fortunate to see thousands of seals and cetaceans over the years, but the most memorable was a Minke whale rubbing its back under the boat, one end of whale on either side."

Venture Jet has also been involved in dozens of rescues over the years and in 2008 discovered a package containing 30kg of cocaine floating in the sea off St Davids.

Beth and are hoping that someone will take forward the business, allowing the boat to remain in St Davids.

"We have had a lot of interest in the boat, particularly from abroad," said Beth. "But, if we can find the right pair of hands, it would be lovely for St Davids and Pembrokeshire for it to stay in the area.

"If we can find people for whom the business would work we would be happy to hand over to them and to help them in any way we can."

If not, the couple will run a shortened retirement season in 2018 before the boat goes abroad.

"We would like to thank our passengers and the local community for their support over the years," said Beth. "And for sharing our enthusiasm for Pembrokeshire's wilder places, its wildlife and of course Ocean Dynamics jet boats."