Even if you’ve never visited the Cayman Islands, you’d probably recognize images of Stingray City. Stingray City is a shallow-water attraction of the northwest corner of Grand Cayman’s North Sound, just a few miles from the famous Seven Mile Beach. Stingray City is situated just inside a natural channel which passes through the barrier reef, which is the core reason it is such an astonishing phenomenon.
Until the late 1980s, very few divers and snorkelers knew about it–it was a place where fishermen used to avoid rougher seas as they cleaned their catches. For years, divers slowly began to realize that when the fishermen would dispose of their offal in the water, the stingrays heartily ate the remains. It was when local divers realized that the large stingrays that teem its waters would allow human scuba divers to hand feed them directly as well, word began to spread quickly. In 1987, Skin Diver Magazine sent a reporter down to Stingray City in the Cayman Islands and ever since then Stingray City has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors who flock from around the world to see the large stingrays that call the Caymanian waters their home.
Stingray City has become so popular that a second site near Rum Point Channel, called Sandbar, has also been created and is just as much a hotspot for ray feeding frenzies. Collectively, the sites that make up Stingray City and Sandbar have been featured on television documentaries and photographs taken on site are frequently seen on advertising backdrops.
But the crowds and the commotion shouldn’t deter anyone–in fact, even returning visitors and advanced divers and snorkelers head to Stingray city every year for the adrenaline rush of watching these prehistoric-looking creatures just below their feet. Because Stingray City has gained so much popularity, travelers often mistakenly assume that the area is artificial, penned-up, or a man-made aquarium like one that was created in the Bahamas. Stingray city is the “real thing,” and the animals are free-roaming, wild species that choose to dwell in the area for a number of reasons (although the free and easy meals are most likely a contributing factor). For the beginning diver or the master, there’s no doubt that the awesome views of these massive animals are breathtaking.
The Three Ways to Experience Stingray City in Grand Cayman
There are three ways to access and experience Stingray City. Regardless of your choice, all three options involve a short boat ride to the area where there is a sandbar in the North Sound of Grand Cayman. Different types of tours can be arranged by a cruise ship or at the dock.
Snorkeling
By far the most popular choice for tourists, cruise ship passengers, and even the locals is to snorkel Stingray City. Caribbean destination guide books have called the snorkeling at Stingray City the “best snorkeling experience in the world.” The snorkeling site offers superb visibility, numerous friendly stingrays and fish, and easy in and out access without the time and management of much equipment. In addition, travelers don’t need any prior snorkeling or even swimming experience to take a shore snorkeling excursion, as the water is very shallow.
Scuba (Our Top Recommendation, of course!)
Obviously, Stingray City is great for scuba diving for a number of the same reasons it is a phenomenal snorkeling destination–clear visibility, teeming marine life, and the up-close encounter with rays. The advantages for beginner divers include shallow dive depths and the chance to make your certification dive one to remember. Divers will get the chance to pet and feed rays from numerous positions in the water, giving the best overall angles for viewing. Divers who have previously experienced Stingray City by snorkeling have commented that the “eye to eye” level viewing is invigorating. Dive operators typically extend the diving experience to 60 minutes of water time and some of the operators also let snorkelers on board as well to experience marine life on the reefs just a short distance away from the main stingray hubs.
Glass Bottom Boat
While the encounter might not be as personal, a glass-bottom boat offers clear views of the rays and is a great choice when the weather is windy and the surface is rough. One perk of viewing Stingray City via glass bottom boat is that a ride can be combined with other excursions and tours, such as a visit to the Cayman Turtle Farm and the “village” of Hell. Riders have also claimed that the glass-bottom boat is the best opportunity for great photographs and the quickest way to see the rays (make sure the flash is off, of course). If you’re claustrophobic, however, you may want to skip the glass-bottom boat option.
Tips for Diving Stingray City
There’s not a whole lot you have to know before diving in Stingray City, but here are some general tips that will make your experience much more enjoyable if you know them ahead of time.
- The sun in the Cayman Islands is bright and hot. Wear sunscreen.
- Keep in mind that while these are certainly wild, free-roaming animals, there is very little chance you’re going to be harmed by a stingray.
- If you’re going to get in the water, a light wetsuit or “skin” will help prevent you from getting what are called “stingray hickeys.” Just imagine.
- Stingrays don’t feed by sight, and they get confused. Watch your fingers and enjoy the quirky sucking-style feeding that is the stingray’s signature.
- The rays may bump you. Don’t bump back. Simply fold your arms across your chest if you don’t want to be bothered–and get away from other divers who might have food in their hands.
- Stingrays aren’t the only creatures in the sea. If you hang on to a piece of bait too long, the Sergeant Majors and Yellow Tail Snappers will step right in–and they bite.
- Gloves can strip off the protective layers of a stingray’s skin, potentially exposing it to deadly infections. Don’t wear gloves.
- Do unto stingrays as you’d like stingrays to do unto you: don’t pull tails or ride them. They won’t pull yours or ride you.
Want to dive Stingray City in the Cayman Islands? Start planning your vacation to this amazing destination today!