NASSAU, BAHAMAS- A Bahamian watersports operator is calling for urgent regulatory action and stronger protection for licensed businesses following a new U.S. Embassy in Nassau security alert warning Americans to avoid renting jet skis in The Bahamas due to ongoing safety risks, including serious injuries, medical evacuations, and reported sexual assaults linked to rogue operators.
The Embassy advisory highlights a pattern of incidents involving unlicensed jet ski operators in popular tourist areas such as Junkanoo Beach, Saunders Beach and Cabbage Beach. It cites cases of serious injuries requiring medical evacuation, past fatalities, and recent reports of sexual assaults, while also pointing to inconsistent enforcement and continued solicitation of tourists in high-traffic beach zones. The Embassy further urges Americans to avoid jet ski rentals entirely and warns that oversight in designated areas remains sporadic despite the existence of regulatory structures.
Against that backdrop, Astra Charlton, Director of Business Development at My Own Water Sports Ltd., said the latest warning underscores a long-standing issue that is now having wider economic and reputational consequences for The Bahamas.
Charlton said: “The Bahamas faces a persistent issue that must be addressed urgently, not just in response to new incidents or advisories.”
Charlton acknowledged the Embassy’s position and its engagement with Bahamian authorities. “We note and appreciate the Ambassador’s acknowledgement that the United States is working with the Bahamian Government, and we recognize that the U.S. Embassy in Nassau is fulfilling its mandate to protect and advise its citizens while travelling to The Bahamas.”
She added that the core issue has not been adequately resolved over time and is now escalating in its impact.
“But this age-old concern now requires urgency, stronger enforcement, and a clear commitment to protecting the reputation of licensed Bahamian operators.”
Charlton warned that repeated advisories are having an immediate effect on the tourism sector. “These repeated, highly visible advisories have an immediate, direct impact on our tourism industry. Issuing warnings at the start of peak season significantly threatens bookings and erodes traveller confidence before arrival, jeopardizing the efforts of Bahamian operators like ourselves.”
She also pointed to the role of viral content in shaping perceptions of the industry. “A video is often more impactful than a written advisory, creating a visual impression that can spread globally within minutes. This problem worsens when footage of reckless, unlicensed operators circulates publicly. It may unfairly imply that all water sports businesses operate this way, which is inaccurate and harmful.”
Charlton stressed that most operators comply with regulations and should not be grouped with illegal activity.
“Most Bahamian water sports operators are licensed, compliant, and focused on safety; their standards should not be conflated with the actions of a reckless few.”
She concluded that the ongoing cycle of warnings is undermining the sector’s stability and international reputation.
“This continuous cycle of warnings presents a critical risk to the tourism sector. Each new advisory weakens consumer confidence and damages The Bahamas’ global reputation. Government action must be urgent and decisive, and it must demonstrate support for compliant businesses.”
