Take the Sting Out of the Stingrays in The Cayman Islands!

The word ‘stingray’ sounds scary, doesn’t it? Well, you need not fear stingrays any more as I am a living testimony to how gentle they are. I can vouch for the ones at the Cayman Islands.

Stingrays glide with grace and flap their wings gently. Obviously, they do have a stinger but it’s not that lengthy tail. The stinger is near the tail with a few inches in length. Stingrays sting when someone steps on its body or abuses it. Only in the face of extreme provocation do they sting. Left alone, the stingrays are gentle and friendly. There are almost no stings to report from Stingray City. A hickey is when the stingray sucks at your leg mistaking it for food. Fortunately, there were no hickeys as well.

No one – and definitely not me – visits Cayman Island without stopping at Stingray City. It needs to be called a city only by the stingrays! Stingray City comprises a group of sandbars in the North Sound. The waters are shallow being only waist deep. Step into the water and watch the gliding movements. Poor eyesight on the part of the stingrays can cause them to occasionally bump into you without any harm. One of the reasons they have poor sight is the position of eyes just above the body.

The stingrays do not mind if you touch and handle them. All those who have touched the stingray, including me, are of the opinion that their underside feels like a wet Portabello mountain. They are not slimy, but silky, to touch. The upper body of older ones is rough in texture and grisly.

To take a closer look, I always used a snorkeling gear to get under water. Alternatively, stingrays can be lifted to the surface of water by the bare hands. Due to laws protecting the stingrays, you are prohibited to remove them completely out of water.

More often, an expert in handling stingrays is present at the site. I was helped by a guide to make contact with the stingrays. I held the stingray for nearly a minute. Females are larger than the males with the length reaching three meters. You get an idea of the strength of these beautiful creatures only by holding them in your arm. Some people tend to swim along with the creatures. However, I do not advocate it.

Red Sail Sports is one of the best tour operators, providing state-of-the-art gear. They have an impressive range of catamarans. I am a big favorite of catamarans because of their stability factor. They also provide smoother rides.

You can reach Stingray City with a 45-minute ride in the catamaran. I thanked heaven as the weather was favorable. If you are unwilling to spend on a catamaran, try a local boat instead. You still will be able to enjoy the clear waters.

My trip included the near coral reef. It cost me a good USD $60. Snorkeling among the corals was fun. However, it was the stingrays that had a lasting imprint on the mind.