Stinging Stingrays

[misslissa]

Ok, It is a little late to be asking this... we go on our stingray swimming adventure in less than a month...

But, is it safe to swim with the rays at GC?

Why don't thing sting? Or do they? Is it scary? Someone tell me! DH begged to do this one and I have to admit, I'm a little nervous!

 

[poohmomof5]

Ok, It is a little late to be asking this... we go on our stingray swimming adventure in less than a month...

But, is it safe to swim with the rays at GC?

Why don't thing sting? Or do they? Is it scary? Someone tell me! DH begged to do this one and I have to admit, I'm a little nervous!

Well, first of all, with a little knowledge of what is going on, you will be fine!

We did this with my ENTIRE family, there were 6 of us, me, DH, DS13, DD11, DS10 and DD7. Plus my DMIL, DFIL and my mom.

We had a great time, but it is a little freaky at first because you are in the middle of the sea and there are hundreds of stingrays all around.

Maybe it will help to think of it this way, would hundreds of people go there EVERY day if it were dangerous? Would Disney allow you to go on a dangerous excursion?

NO! So, hopefully that will help calm you.

We were totally amazed at home many stingrays were there. It was a little bit scary at first, but we quickly realized that they weren't bothered by us at all and their stingers are actually at the base of their tail, not the tip and they will only sting you if either stepped on or aggravated.

You will be just fine. We had a great time. Good luck and have fun!

 

[samily]

i thought i read on the boards somewhere that the stingrays on cc have had their barbs removed- is this true?

 

[DisneyMom92]

i thought i read on the boards somewhere that the stingrays on cc have had their barbs removed- is this true?

They are not actually removed but rather groomed. The barbs are likened to your fingernail. They clip it back so they can't accidentally stick you, but it grows back naturally and they have to trim it again.

Make sense?

 

[samily]

They are not actually removed but rather groomed. The barbs are likened to your fingernail. They clip it back so they can't accidentally stick you, but it grows back naturally and they have to trim it again.

Make sense?

interesting...thanks.

 

[DSquare]

The poster is talking about the stingrays at Grand Cayman. There are two different locations they take you. Divers goto Stingray City and snorkelers goto Stingray Sandbar. Many times I've seen the term Stingray City used for the sandbar but they are two different places. The sandbar is about waist high and you will be required to remove your fins (they can scratch the stingrays.) Typically stingrays only release their barb if they are stepped on, it's really rare (I never heard of it happening at all) for a stingray to sting for no reason at all. They only do it as a last option to get away. Instead of walking you are told to do the shuffle and kind of just move your feet along the sand without lifting them up and setting them back down on top of a stingray. Usually the boat operators will bring squid to feed the stingrays and if you by chance get to be one of the first boats out there its really a neat sight to see al l the stingrays make their way over to you.

 

[WDWLVR]

We've done both Grand Cayman and Castaway Cay (we've also done the excursion in Antiqua) and I think Grand Cayman is the best.

The water height can very depending on the tide. When we were there it was about chest high on me and I'm 5' 6".

The rays know when a new boat is coming and even if there are other boats out there will swim on over to get some new food. It is great!

As long as you follow the instructions of the guides on the boat you will be fine. It is by far one of the best experiences we've ever had!

 

[gonemousin']

It is by far one of the best experiences we've ever had!

I second that! I did it over 10 years ago (Stingray Sandbar in Grand Cayman) and I still remember it with enormous fondness. They were so docile, social and interactive - even for those of us who chose not to feed them. I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!

 

[mmouse37]

I have also done both the Grand Cayman stingray excursion and the CC one. The DCL one is more controlled the stingrays are much smaller which may be a better first time experience for someone who is really apprehensive about interacting too much with stingrays. The GC excursion was great....nothing beats that same excitment as when you are in the ocean with hundreds of stingrays the size of supersized pizza's....those things are really big. The GC excursion was one of my best excursions ever in 16 DCL cruises. We went with Captain Marvin and had a blast. To see and feel these creatures swimming right next to you was awesome!!!!

We were told by the Captain Marvins staff that the reason the stingrays are docile at GC is that for decades the island fishermen would clean their nets at the sandbar area and over the years the stingrays would feed there and interact with the fishermen, hence no real fear of people. They associate people and boats with food for them so they are willing to come to the area to have a snack!!!