|
Until quite recently, it was a crazy idea for humans to interact with stingrays. This was a sensible precaution because stingrays, with their venomous whip-like tail that may cause seriously painful wounds, were known to be potentially lethal. In the Cayman Islands, however, stingrays do not scare people away. In fact, stingrays caress you and play with you because they are used to people. To put it another way, Stingray City is the only place on Earth where you can interact with the stingrays face-to-fin.
Stingray City History
Stingray City is one of those unique places that embody the mutual relationship between human beings and animals. The amazing exchange between the stingrays of Stingray City and people started a long time ago when fishermen cleaned their catch in the area, and stingrays started feasting on the leftovers. In 1987, Skin Diver Magazine found out that divers in the area were feeding the stingrays, boosting the site's popularity even further. Today, the stingrays are a major attraction to tourists, particularly to scuba divers and snorkeling enthusiasts. Stingray City has also been featured in various documentaries and in advertisements as backdrops.
Stingray City: What to Do
It's safe to say that you won't know what an amazing snorkeling experience is until you've tried snorkeling in Stingray City. It's the best place to use your underwater camera because apart from taking photos of the stingrays, you can also take pictures of beautiful conch shells and other wonderful marine lifeforms in close up. Don't worry about these seemingly dangerous animals though, because at Stingray City, guides teach you the proper way to feed and play with the rays.
You don't have to go too far to see the magnificent stingrays of Stingray City. Your snorkeling group will go to the center of a sandbar where the water is shallow, just about three to five feet deep. From there, you can already clearly see the stingrays, swimming underneath, touching and nibbling at your feet. For scuba divers, it is best to form a group of 10 or 20 and explore the area together. It's also best to follow guidelines to ensure a safe diving adventure. For instance, if your dive master tells you not to wear fins, do not wear fins. If you do, you might threaten and hurt the rays.
Sometimes, windy weather can get in the way of stingray snorkeling. You can still see stingrays though by riding a glass bottom boat, where you can safely observe the rays through the boat's glass flooring. If you want something more thrilling, try riding a jetski. Some tourists tie their jetski to the one anchored on the ocean floor for more action and excitement.
There are so many things to do at Stingray City that you'll never get bored: feed and play with stingrays, take photos of the rich sealife in the area, learn everything you need to know about stingrays from tour guides and dive operators, and simply get to know other tourists from different parts of the globe. It is only at Stingray City where all the people from around the world are united by an animal people normally get scared of.
Feeding the Rays
Stingrays absolutely love eating squid, and they'll never fail to come if you bring their favorite food. To feed a ray with squid, pinch the squid between your fingers. Arch your fingers to avoid having stingrays suck up your hands, and then let your hands rest in the water. You will notice that the stingrays will come near to get a piece of the squid.
There are more places to visit after your Stingray City experience. Tourists who want to snorkel more, can go to Coral Gardens. One thing's for sure, though. Wherever your tour guide takes you, as long as you’re in the Cayman Islands, you're surely going to have a blast!
For any corrections in this article, please email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
Log-in
