16/06/2026
WARNING ‼️
U.S. Embassy Nassau Warns Americans To Avoid Renting Jet Skis In The Bahamas
The U.S. Embassy in Nassau issued a Security Alert and released a new public service announcement today warning American tourists and residents about the serious and ongoing dangers of renting jet skis in The Bahamas, urging all U.S. citizens to review the guidance before visiting the islands' beaches.
The release further reads that:
"Decades of inadequate enforcement in The Bahamas' jet ski industry have fueled a pattern of preventable tragedies — serious injuries requiring medical evacuations and sexual assaults against U.S. citizens. Since August 2024, six U.S. citizens have been hospitalized with injuries from jet ski accidents — three of whom required emergency medical evacuation to the United States."
"In 2025, two U.S. citizen women reported sexual assaults by jet ski operators. In 2026, two additional sexual assaults have already been reported. Rogue operators — unlicensed, uninsured, and operating unsafe watercraft — continue to solicit tourists on Nassau's most popular beaches, including Junkanoo Beach, Saunders Beach, and Cabbage Beach, as well as near the Cruise Port and the small islands east of Paradise Island. Oversight by the authorities of these supposed “official” jet ski rental areas is sporadic at best."
"In September 2025, the Embassy mourned the loss of Alaska Air National Guard Second Lieutenant Robert Rosa, an active-duty U.S. service member killed while on vacation in Nassau in a jet ski-related incident."
"The Embassy has also released a public service announcement featuring Ambassador Herschel Walker, available here: https://bs.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-nassau-the-bahamas-june-15-2026/. In it, Ambassador Walker warns Americans directly: "We've lost an American life to a preventable accident. Too many of our visitors have been hospitalized with serious injuries."
"Ambassador Walker acknowledged steps the Bahamian government has taken while making clear that more is needed. "The jet ski task force that was established last year is a meaningful first step, and we are grateful for it — but a task force that does not meet cannot protect lives," he said. "I am calling on the Government of The Bahamas to activate this task force, enforce existing regulations, and take the concrete steps needed to bring real accountability to this industry."
"The Ambassador also pointed to a clear path forward. "Bahamian business owners and resort operators are ready and willing to be partners in making these waters safer — for tourists, for the Bahamian economy, and for the country's reputation as a world-class destination. This is a real opportunity to make a lasting, positive change, and the Embassy stands ready to support that work."
"Due to the severity of these risks, U.S. government employees working in The Bahamas are prohibited from renting or using jet skis on New Providence and Paradise Islands. The Embassy advises all U.S. citizens to avoid renting jet skis in The Bahamas, beware of solicitors near the Cruise Port and popular beaches, and always follow local weather and marine alerts."
