Travel Advisory and Safety Concerns in the Bahamas
The United States Department of State has issued a level-two travel advisory for the Bahamas, advising travelers to exercise increased caution due to crime levels. This advisory highlights the risks associated with violent crimes such as armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults that can occur anywhere on the island.
One of the main concerns for tourists is the safety of jet ski rentals. The US Embassy in Nassau has issued a security alert warning travelers to avoid accepting rides from jet ski operators due to the lack of safety regulations that have led to multiple injuries and assaults. Jet ski rentals pose a serious risk of injury, death, and sexual assault, and US government employees are banned from renting them — and travelers should avoid them too.
Reports of Sexual Assaults
Two female US citizens this year have already reported assaults by jet ski operators to the embassy. There were also two American women who reported sexual assaults in 2025 and another three reports in 2024. The embassy said that male jet ski instructors targeted women at Paradise Island and downtown Nassau, with reports at Junkanoo Beach, Saunders Beach and Cabbage Beach.
The women said they were taken to isolated parts of the island by the jet ski instructors after they were solicited for a ride. The operators are typically unlicensed and uninsured, according to Ambassador Herschel Walker in a video message.
Preventable Jet Ski Accidents
In addition to the assaults, the embassy warned that there have been multiple preventable jet ski accidents that have killed or seriously injured Americans. Since August 2024, six US citizens have been hospitalized in the Bahamas with injuries from jet ski accidents. Three of those citizens were transported to the US for emergency medical evaluations.
In 2025, a member of the Alaska Air National Guard was killed in a jet ski accident while on vacation in Nassau. Second Lieutenant Robert Rosa, 41, died after he was knocked unconscious while riding a jet ski off the coast of Paradise Island. He was struck by an unlicensed operator driving an unregistered boat.
‘The US Embassy is working with the Bahamian government to address the persistence of deaths, injuries and sexual assaults associated with the minimally regulated small watercraft industry,’ US Embassy Chargé d’affaires Kimberly Furnish said in a statement at the time.
Recommendations for Travelers
The embassy has advised travelers to avoid renting jet skis and beware of solicitors near the Cruise Port, Junkanoo Beach, Arawak Cay, and Paradise Island. Minors under the age of 18 are not permitted to ride with renters, so vacationers should avoid instructors ignoring this regulation.
Areas to Avoid
Officials warned that the area of the island known as ‘Over the Hill,’ which is south of Shirley Street in Nassau, has been a hotspot for gang activity, and people have been killed. Travelers are encouraged to stay informed about local conditions and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during their visit.
