Is a trip to Stingray City top of your list of things to do on your Grand Cayman vacation? We’re not surprised! After all, where else in the world can you get into warm, clear ocean water and interact with wild stingrays in their natural habitat?
Our Stingray City tours in Grand Cayman are one of the most popular activities for visitors to our slice of paradise. But, of course, any activity that involves interactions with wild animals comes with plenty of understandable questions.
One of the most common we receive is, “Can the stingrays at Stingray City sting you?”
Keep scrolling down to find out our answer. And if you have any more questions about our tours and excursions, please feel free to get in touch.
Do the Stingrays at Stingray City Sting?
Let’s get this out of the way immediately: the stingrays at Stingray City can sting, yes. However, the likelihood of them doing so is incredibly low. Let us explain.
Stingray City is home to southern stingrays. These animals are considered one of the friendliest and most playful species in the waters surrounding the Cayman Islands. Their affectionate nickname “puppies of the sea” tells you everything you need to know about their character.
However, understanding the anatomy of the southern stingray is equally as important. From birth, these stingrays have a barb at the end of their tail. While sharp and capable of inflicting a wound, this barb is not venomous.
Now, here’s the most essential information—a stingray will only use its barb in self-defence when startled or threatened. And, at Stingray City, this is highly unlikely to happen.
Do you want to learn even more about these remarkable animals? We think you’ll love our blog 5 Things You May Not Know About Stingray City’s Stingrays!
What Makes Stingray City Safe?
Hundreds of thousands of people visit Stingray City in the Cayman Islands every year without a hint of an issue. This is because the stingrays here aren’t just naturally friendly, they’re also familiar and comfortable with human contact. These animals know that humans do not pose a threat to their safety.
When you visit Stingray City with a professional tour operator, like Red Sail Sports, you have nothing to worry about. The combination of our expert guidance and these friendly creatures means everything runs smoothly.
What’s more, one of the most common causes of stingray attacks is people accidentally stepping on one as it sleeps covered by sand. This simply doesn’t happen at Stingray City. The animals here are active and alert as they know easy food is available!
Put simply, the stingrays are always swimming and certainly don’t want to hide when snacks are being handed out.
If you’re already wondering how to access this special place, make our blog How Do You Get to Stingray City? your next port of call!
How to Behave When in the Water with Stingrays?
It takes especially reckless behaviour to cause issues with the stingrays at Stingray City. Remember, a stingray will only try to use its barb if provoked; the danger they pose is strictly defensive. As such, a gentle, common-sense approach always works perfectly.
All you need to do is behave respectfully to the stingrays. Never use rough handling and always follow instructions from your local guides. The stingrays at Stingray City have grown used to humans over generations, so they’re comfortable being held. You can even kiss them for seven years of good luck!
The ability to get so close and personal with these wild animals is just one of the many reasons why Stingray City is worth a visit.
The Stingrays at Stingray City are Unique!
It’s important to note that the situation at Stingray City isn’t the norm. As touched on above, the stingrays here have learned to like humans over a long period. Despite being wild animals, we have even seen them fall asleep in the arms of some guides!
But stingrays are territorial creatures. While the stingray families at Stingray City are confident and comfortable around humans, others elsewhere won’t be. For example, if you see a stingray at Seven Mile Beach, do not assume that it’s like those at Stingray City. It’s likely no relation and will have a more suspicious attitude toward you. If it thinks you’re a predator, you increase the chances of self-defensive action.
We strongly recommend avoiding stingrays you see outside of Stingray City. Don’t approach, don’t surprise, and don’t try and touch. Just keep your distance.
As we near the end of this blog, let us point you in the direction of our Ultimate Guide to Stingray City in Grand Cayman. It’s filled with the essential information you need for planning your visit.
Get the Complete Stingray City Experience with Our Tours!
We hope this blog has given you the confidence to book your place on one of Grand Cayman’s most popular visitor experiences. Browse our full range of Stingray City tours in Grand Cayman to find the perfect excursion for your needs and preferences.
And if you have any questions about the trips and activities we provide, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
