Overview
- The U.S. Embassy in Nassau issued a security alert on June 15 advising Americans not to rent or accept rides from jet‑ski operators because safety rules are poorly enforced.
- Since 2024 the embassy has recorded multiple sexual‑assault reports tied to Nassau-based operators, six accidents that injured U.S. citizens, three medical evacuations to the United States and a fatal collision in 2025.
- Officials singled out solicitation hotspots where risky operators work, including the Cruise Port, Junkanoo Beach, Arawak Cay, Saunders/Cabbage (Cabbage) Beach and the small islands east of Paradise Island.
- Bahamian authorities enacted a law in March 2026 that bars operators from riding with guests to reduce opportunities for misconduct, but the embassy says oversight of rental areas remains sporadic.
- The warning could affect American cruise and beach travel to the Bahamas because the State Department keeps the country at a Level 2 advisory and travelers should watch for stronger enforcement or new safety steps from Bahamian officials.