U.S. issues safety alert in popular Caribbean destination after reported assaults, injuries

The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas is warning visitors about the dangers of renting jet skis and small watercrafts after a string of injuries and deaths.

The U.S. Embassy in The Bahamas is warning American travellers to avoid renting jet skis after reports of sexual assaults and serious injuries involving tourists.

In an online security alert posted online in June, embassy officials in the Bahamian capital of Nassau said several American women have reported being sexually assaulted by jet ski operators after accepting rides near Paradise Island and downtown Nassau.

The embassy said two of those reports were made this year, following similar incidents in 2025 and 2024.

Safety concerns mount

The warning also points to a series of serious jet ski accidents.

Since August 2024, six Americans have been hospitalized following jet ski crashes in The Bahamas, with one tourist killed and three requiring medical evacuation back to the United States, according to the embassy.

U.S. Ambassador Herschel Walker called the incidents preventable and urged travellers to use caution.

Because of what officials described as security concerns and weak safety oversight, U.S. government employees stationed in The Bahamas are barred from renting or using jet skis on New Providence and Paradise islands.

The embassy is advising travellers to avoid jet ski rentals entirely and to be cautious of operators approaching tourists near Nassau’s cruise port, Junkanoo Beach and Arawak Cay.

Canada’s advisory flags broader risks

Global Affairs Canada advises Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to The Bahamas, a standing advisory that has been in place since 2014.

The federal advisory warns that crime remains a concern in popular tourist destinations, with reports of robberies, fraud and sexual assaults in Nassau and Freeport, including in resort areas and cruise terminals. It also urges women to be particularly cautious on beaches, in casinos and during jet ski rides.

In a statement to CTVNews.ca, Global Affairs Canada said there have been no recent substantive changes to its advisory for The Bahamas. While there was an editorial change on June 19, the most recent update was made May 26 over Ebola-related entry and exit measures.