Bahamas safety reports

Broadcaster reports jet-ski operator freed of rape charge

Eyewitness News reported in May 2025 that a jet-ski operator had been freed of a rape charge involving a tourist. The accessible source does not provide enough detail to identify the case or explain the legal disposition. It should not be treated as proof of an acquittal, a false allegation, or an outcome in any other report on this site.

Original video: https://vimeo.com/[phone number removed]

Source: Eyewitness News Bahamas · May 2, 2025.

News report covers charge concerning an elderly tourist

Global reported a charge concerning an elderly tourist. No final case outcome was established in this review.

Source: Global News · March 3, 2024.

Two travelers alleged sexual assault during a Grand Bahama shore visit

ABC reported that two American travelers said they were drugged and sexually assaulted during a Grand Bahama stop in February 2024, and that police arrested two staff members. Pirates Cove disputed their account, saying surveillance footage conflicted with the allegations. Inside Edition’s follow-up includes that response. These reports do not establish a conviction.

Source: Eyewitness News ABC7NY · February 8, 2024.

Additional source: https://www.insideedition.com/media/videos/nurse-practitioner-who-helped-bahamas-alleged-assault-victims-speaks-out-85996

Australia advises a high degree of caution in The Bahamas

Australia’s Smartraveller guidance warns about violent crime, sexual assault, food and drink spiking, and poorly regulated water sports. It says travelers can be affected even in resort areas and recommends staying alert and checking activities carefully. The warning is national travel advice, not evidence that a particular operator or property committed wrongdoing.

Official Australian government guidance checked September 20, 2026. Read the live advisory before travel.

Canada warns travelers about sexual assault and drink spiking

Canada’s Bahamas travel guidance describes reported sexual assaults near hotels, in rooms, on beaches, on cruise ships and involving jet-ski operators. Some reported incidents involved drugging. The guidance advises caution, avoiding isolated places after dark and being careful about drinks or transportation offered by strangers. These are general travel warnings, not allegations against every hotel, cruise line or excursion provider.

Official Government of Canada guidance checked September 20, 2026. Open the source for current advice.

UK warning: avoid baited water and check water-sports safety

UK travel advice warns that fatal shark attacks can occur without warning and identifies increased risk around dusk, at night and in baited water. It also describes poor regulation of water sports and reports of sexual assaults by jet-ski operators in Nassau. The advice is to consider these risks before swimming or hiring equipment. It does not say that every operator is unsafe or that all pig-swim locations have the same conditions.

Official UK government guidance checked September 20, 2026. Read the source for updates.

U.S. travel advisory: increased caution, boating risks and beach safety

The U.S. State Department’s July 28, 2026 Bahamas advisory is Level 2: exercise increased caution because of crime. It warns about poorly regulated boating, reported sexual assaults by jet-ski operators, shark attacks and swimmers overestimating their abilities. It also restricts U.S. government employees from renting personal watercraft from independent operators on New Providence and Paradise Islands. This is country-level travel guidance, not a finding against a named business or a specific pig excursion.

Official source checked September 20, 2026. Open the advisory for current guidance.

Pearl Island guest alleges unwanted sexual touching during excursion

A separate lawsuit described in The Tribune alleges nonconsensual touching by staff in a cabana during a May 2025 excursion. The guest also alleged drugging and distress from witnessing her companion’s severe boating injury. These are allegations in a civil complaint, not a criminal conviction or established finding. The article reports jurisdictional challenges by the island operators in the related injury case.

Source: The Tribune, May 26, 2026.

Embassy warning urged visitors to avoid Bahamas jet-ski rentals

Reported sexual assaults, crashes and injuries were behind a U.S. Embassy warning covered by Local 10 on June 15, 2026. The coverage described concerns about regulation of jet-ski rentals and advice to avoid them. It concerns the water-sports sector, not a finding against every operator. Check the original warning for subsequent updates.

Source: Local 10 News.

CBS Chicago also covered the warning on June 16, 2026. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2claKfpfvo

Operator response: Our News reported jet-ski operators’ objection that the alert was inaccurate and threatened their livelihoods. Read their response: https://ournews.bs/jet-ski-operators-the-alert-is-not-only-inaccurate-it-threatens-our-livelihoods/