Twenty residents and visitors took to the water on Thursday as Life Without Barriers celebrated the changing season in water yet to feel a chill.

Community facilitator Fi Devane said people from Life Without Barriers centres in Batemans Bay, Ulladulla and Goulburn, and from a Canberra respite program, attended.

“We had to think outside the square,” Ms Devane Said.

“Some of our guys said, ‘I am not getting on a jet ski’, but they faced their fears and had the best time.”

She said they emerged from the water wearing expressions that left workers in no doubt of “why we do the job we love”.

It was equally moving for Paul and Deborah O’Brien and their team, of Batemans Bay Watersports and Bay River Houseboats, who provided the throttle power.

“There were a lot of tearful moments,” Mr O’Brien said.

“First they did not want to get on, then they did not want to get off.”

Luckily it was a water sport, as Mr O’Brien said he could not remain dry-eyed watching fear turn to freedom.