Swimming with Stingrays

“Isn’t that how the Crocodile Hunter died?”

That’s the first question I asked when Susan informed me we would be swimming with stingrays while on vacation in the Cayman Islands. Turns out it’s everyone’s first question, so let me address it right up front. Over the past 80 years, 20 people have been killed by stingrays. To put that number in perspective, in 2021 1,554 people died from falling off furniture. You are nearly 80 times more likely to die from falling off your couch than being killed by a stingray. They’re pretty safe.

Our cruise ship was too large to dock in the Grand Cayman Island, so the morning we arrived we exited the cruise ship and boarded a tinder, which took us ashore. From there we boarded a van/taxi that would eventually take us to our catamaran. Both Mexico and the Cayman Islands are packed with vans acting as taxis, many of them models we don’t have here in the states. I really enjoyed look at them, and had forgot that as a UK territory, vehicles on the Cayman Islands are right-hand drive.

Twelve of us exited the van and boarded the catamaran, which took us approximately 45 minutes back out into the ocean. There was little to do on the catamaran except sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery, which is not a bad way to spend some vacation time.

During the trip our guide (a woman named Lou) told us what to expect. She said that we would not be going to where the stingray live, but rather a “mutual meeting spot.” In my mind, I likened it to feeding squirrels in the park. The stingray know what time the ships come, and that they bring food (shrimp). The stingray are also very social and like interacting with people.

Our guide also cautioned us that the stingray are wild animals that they do not control. Typically a dozen or more stingray show up; however, on one recent trip, none came. The guides do not control the stingrays.

Our guide gave us two warnings. The first was “not to freak out.” She explained that the stingray’s barbed tail, while indeed sharp, faces backwards. It is not for attacking; it’s to protect it from being eaten from behind. The odds of the stingray in front of you poking you is statistically zero; what could happen, however, is people might freak out and flail their arms, accidentally hitting a stingray behind them. So don’t do that. The other thing we were warned not to do was rub our hands on our bodies or clothing after feeding shrimp to the stingray, as that’s the easiest way to (a) transfer the smell of shrimp onto your clothes or body and (b) spend the day getting swarmed by stingrays.

After 45 minutes or so on the water we arrived at the spot. Although the water was over my head where we exited the boat, within just a few feet it became shallow enough to stand in. Any concerns of no stingrays showing up quickly subsided as dozens rushed over to greet us.

Believe it or not, all our guides had to do was hold their arms out and the stingray would swim right into their arms. Apparently they love to cuddle and get hugs. The trick is not to try and lift them (they weigh 70-90lbs), but simply support them.

If I had to compare the stingrays to anything it would be cats. They enjoy rubbing up against people as they swim by.

After about an hour in the ocean it was time to return to the catamaran and head back to shore. While the trip out was full of nervous chatter and small talk, the trip back was mostly silent as people enjoyed the trip and tried to process what we had just done. It was an incredibly odd and unique experience, one I will never forget.

For the record, not a single person mentioned my t-shirt during the entire adventure.