The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued a bahamas jet ski safety warning on Monday, telling Americans to avoid renting jet skis in The Bahamas after reports of deaths, injuries, and sexual assaults tied to rogue operators. U.S. Ambassador Herschel Walker said Americans visiting or living in the Bahamas should treat the risk seriously, especially around Nassau and Paradise Island.
The embassy said the operators are "rogue operators" who are "unlicensed, uninsured, and operating unsafe watercraft." It also warned U.S. citizens to avoid solicitors near the Cruise Port and popular beaches, and to always follow local weather and marine alerts.
Nassau Beaches and Shallow Waters
The embassy said rogue operators are soliciting tourists on Nassau's most popular beaches, including Cabbage Beach, Junkanoo Beach and Saunders Beach. Walker said the danger is tied to jet skis and small watercraft being operated in shallow waters, where the risks extend to swimming areas near those beaches.
Walker said "We've lost American lives to preventable accidents. Multiple visitors have been hospitalized." He also said American citizens have been sexually assaulted by jet ski operators who allegedly took victims to isolated islands. That combination of deaths, injuries, and assault allegations is what pushed the embassy to issue a public warning rather than a routine travel reminder.
U.S. Government Employees Banned
Walker said U.S. government employees are banned from renting or riding jet skis. He added that the United States is working with the Bahamian government to address the issues, making the warning more than advice for tourists and signaling an official response inside the U.S. government presence in the Bahamas.
The embassy also said law enforcement oversight is sporadic at best, which leaves travelers dealing with operators who may not be licensed, insured, or using safe equipment. Walker told Americans, "But, for now, consider all the risks before you get on a jet ski in the Bahamas."
For U.S. travelers heading to Nassau, Paradise Island, or the beaches named in the warning, the practical step is simple: avoid renting jet skis and stay away from unsolicited offers near the shore or cruise port. The next move now sits with U.S. and Bahamian officials already working on the issue, while the embassy keeps the warning in place for Americans on the ground.
