Ground Security Advisory – Bahamas Water Sports

▸ U.S. Embassy Advisory — Nassau, Bahamas

ISSUED BY U.S. Embassy Nassau

ISSUED 15 JUN 2026

SUBJECT Jet Ski Operators — Assault, Injury & Safety Violations

LOCATIONS CITED Junkanoo Beach · Saunders Beach · Cabbage Beach · Cruise Port · Paradise Island

The U.S. Embassy in Nassau has issued an urgent advisory warning American citizens against renting or using jet skis in The Bahamas, citing a documented and escalating pattern of assaults, injuries, and fatalities linked to unlicensed operators. According to reports, rogue operators — unlicensed, uninsured, and operating unsafe watercraft — continue to solicit tourists directly on Nassau's most popular beaches and near the Cruise Port. The Embassy has characterized the situation as the result of decades of inadequate enforcement and called on the Bahamian government to activate its watercraft task force and enforce existing regulations.

01 Documented Incident Pattern

According to the U.S. Embassy, six U.S. citizens have been hospitalised due to jet ski accidents since August 2024, with three requiring emergency medical evacuation from The Bahamas.
According to reports, seven sexual assaults by jet ski operators have been reported since 2024 — three in 2024, two in 2025, and two already in 2026. Victims were female U.S. citizens who were solicited for rides and then taken to isolated locations.
Operators are described in reports as unlicensed and uninsured, operating watercraft that may not meet basic safety standards. Weather warnings are routinely disregarded.
The solicitation method is consistent: tourists are approached directly on the beach by individuals offering rides — presenting as legitimate operators in an environment where enforcement is visibly absent.
The pattern is not limited to jet skis. The broader water sports environment in Nassau tourist zones has seen repeated incidents involving accidents, injuries, and predatory operator conduct.

02 Why This Is Relevant to Crew

The Bahamas is a frequent layover and leisure destination for business aviation crews operating in the Caribbean and along the U.S. East Coast. Nassau (MYNN), Exuma (MYEF), and Marsh Harbour (MYAM) are all common stops.
Crew members, passengers, and their dependants visiting Nassau beaches are operating in the exact environments cited by the Embassy — Junkanoo, Saunders, Cabbage Beach, and near the Cruise Port and Paradise Island.
The solicitation approach is designed to appear low-risk. A tourist on a beach being offered a jet ski ride does not immediately read as a security threat. That is precisely what makes it effective.
A medical emergency requiring evacuation from The Bahamas carries significant implications for the crew, the aircraft, and the operation. Three of the six hospitalisations reported since 2024 required emergency medical evacuation — a serious, disruptive, and costly outcome that is entirely avoidable.

▸ Crew & Passenger Guidance

Do not rent jet skis or watercraft from beach solicitors. If approached on the beach by an individual offering a ride, decline. Legitimate operators work from established rental facilities with visible licensing and insurance documentation.
If water sports are planned, book only through your hotel, FBO concierge, or a verified tour operator — not from unsolicited beach approaches.
Travel in groups during beach and leisure activities. Isolation is the consistent precursor in the assault incidents documented by the Embassy.
Pass this advisory to passengers and dependants where appropriate — the documented victims are tourists, not crew, but the environments are shared.
If an incident occurs, contact the Royal Bahamas Police Force (emergency: 919 or 911) and notify the U.S. Embassy Nassau immediately: +1-242-461-5025.
Any medical emergency requiring evacuation should be reported to Operations immediately. Do not attempt to self-coordinate air medical transport — go through established channels.