Stingray City Grand Cayman

Known today as the worlds 'Best Twelve Foot Dive' Stingray City, in Grand Cayman, is not to be missed! It's a perfect spot for an easy dive or just as good or better snorkeling. This is perfect snorkeling trip for kids and adults alike...

1997 marked the 10th anniversary of this unique attraction. It was first described as the "world's best 12-ft. dive," by Bob Hollis, in a September 1987 article by acclaimed underwater photographer/ writer Geri Murphy, in Skin Diver Magazine. Geri actually gave the site its name, Stingray City, and has been one of its most enthusiastic visitors ever since.

This site had been known to local fishermen for many years, who watched the rays gather to feed on scraps of fish when they regularly cleaned their catches in this spot. Nearby, the Sandbar has also become a popular recreation spot, especially for families coming by boat on weekends. The rays gather here, in less than four feet of water, greeting snorkelers, swimmers and obviously expecting food in return.

Perhaps the Cayman Islands' most famous attraction, Stingray City and the nearby shallows known as Sandbar provide the only natural opportunity in the world to swim with more than two dozen 'tame' Atlantic Southern Stingrays which seem to enjoy the company of humans.

For centuries, these mysterious animals in the sea have been unnecessarily feared by man. This misconception of rays being dangerous fish was caused by a lack of understanding of their anatomy. This species has long, whip-like tails which contain one or two razor-sharp, serrated barbs located at the base. The barb contains venom used to deter predators. It causes pain and swelling upon contact but rays are not aggressive creatures and do not attack man or any other creatures. Their tails are used purely as defense and usually ineffective against their main predators, sharks.

Therefore, stingrays really only cause trouble to humans in shallow water areas, and only if they are stepped on by mistake while lying unseen, feeding in the sand. Divers and snorkelers at Stingray City do not encounter this because the rays are in perpetual motion in the water, circling visitors in search of a handout of squid or fish.

The rays found at Stingray City and Sandbar have white underbellies and slate gray, brown, 'khaki' or rarely, black upper surfaces. Males of this species are smaller and more numerous at the site. Adult Females grow as large as six feet across. Relatives of the shark, with soft, cartilaginous skeletons, they also give birth to live young, with three to five, nine-inch long 'pups' born at the same time.

Although they appear to be 'sleeping,: they are actually busy feeding on their normal diet of crabs, conch, shrimp, worms and even small fish. These 'snoozing' creatures also seem to be stirring up the sand in small clouds, as they expel sediment through vents located behind their eyes.

Since rays' eyes are located on the top of their bodies and their mouths hidden are on their flat underside, they cannot see what they are feeding on. They instead sense it through highly developed electro-receptors combined with an acute sense of smell and touch. In their natural state, they slowly patrol the ocean floor until they sense prey, and then cover it with their body. Rays then create a shallow depression in the sand to cover themselves, often leaving only their eyes and long tail exposed.

Stingray City Charter Operators

Enjoy the best of Stingray City and Sandbar with our Caymanian Captains on a North Sound snorkeling and beach lunch cruise excursion. This is Grand Cayman's original "tourist attraction!

Today, these North Sound beach lunch / snorkeling trips continue to provide visitors with a delightful, truly Caymanian experience. They are offered by a variety of Caymanian captains and boat operators. This activity remains one of our tourism industry's best values and most memorable soft eco-tourism adventures. For less than US $50 per person, Caymanian captains and crew take visitors on a full day adventure (9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.). Where they enjoy snorkeling stops (they can learn to snorkel too) at either Stingray City or the shallower Sandbar area, where rays swim freely with humans in only three feet of water, and then on to Coral Gardens for fish watching on shallow coral heads.

During the trip, the captain and his guides will dive for the lovely pink Queen conch to show to their guests and explain the unusual animal's habits. This prized shellfish delicacy is then prepared Cayman- style as an appetizer, sliced very thin and marinated in lime juice, onion and seasonings and served before a full native-style lunch with traditional Caymanian peas and rice, potato or breadfruit salad, and local fish or spicy chicken on the beach at Cayman Kai. Guests are invited to clean the shell and take it home as a memento.

These trips are a very different experience from "regular" snorkeling trips to Stingray City offered by almost every water sports center and dive operation. The North Sound snorkeling/ beach lunch trips offer visitors the opportunity to meet our people and spend any enjoyable day learning more about Caymanian traditions, food-often laced with stories, politics and maybe even some island gossip.

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