AndiWe recently visited Grand Cayman for a day during our Disney Magic Cruise. One of the things on my bucket list is swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman! So of course, I had to take advantage of this opportunity and book an excursion!
We booked through our Disney Cruise, but I know there are several reputable companies from which to choose. We had a short port day in Grand Cayman and this is one of the longer excursions. Not getting left behind was a HUGE priority!
Why Grand Cayman?
Swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman is a unique experience that can’t be found anywhere else in the world! Stingray city is a set of shallow sandbars in the middle of the sea. The turquoise water is only three to four feet deep and the stingrays will swarm around you.
How Stingray City came to be is a unique story. Years ago, fisherman got attacked by mosquitos while cleaning their fish onshore. They decided to start cleaning their fish on the sandbars before heading back to the island. The stingrays loved eating the fish remains and as time went on more stayed in the area.
What Type of Stingrays are in Grand Cayman?
Southern stingrays live in this area. They are about 4 to 5 feet in diameter and very friendly. Female stingrays outnumber the males five to one!
Is Swimming with Stingrays in Grand Cayman safe?
Each tour operator will give you brief instructions on what you should and should not do with the stingrays. As long as you listen to them it is a safe activity. There’s always a risk with any wild animal, but we never felt unsafe the entire time.
They are very docile creatures. As long they don’t feel threatened, you’ll be fine.
Is Swimming with Stingrays in Grand Cayman Ethical?
I’ve started researching animal encounters more thoroughly. I was blindly supporting unethical animal encounters and had no idea.
Stingray City is most definitely a tourist attraction! However, these stingrays are completely wild and can come and go as they please. They chose to come to this area on their own.
The docile stingrays will swim around you and will allow you to hold or pet them. Their are some shy stingrays that choose not to swim around the humans.
The government seems to be good about regulating the tour operators. I believe it is an ethical animal encounter. I’m not an expert though, so feel free to do your own research.
When is the Best Time To Swim with Stingrays in Grand Cayman?
If you’re on a cruise, then whenever they port here 🙂
If not, you have more options.
The absolute best time is at sunrise. I’ve seen pictures and it looks amazing! There are only a couple boats out during that time, so ALL the stingrays swarm to you. When I come back to Grand Cayman for a longer visit, I will most definitely be doing this!
Not a morning person? I would try to find a day with little to no cruise ships are in port.
Our Experience on the Stingray City Excursion
The boat ride took about 20 to 30 minutes to get out to the sandbar. We had a beautiful view of the island!
When we stopped, the captain gave us brief instructions on interacting with the stingrays. He was very informative and knew what he was talking about.
I expected the water to be warm, but soon discovered it was NOT! We did come at the beginning of February, so I guess I should have expected it. After a few minutes, my body did adapt to the temperature.
Seeing the stingrays swimming around was incredible! One of the crew was already in the water and showed us how to properly pet and hold a stingray.
We each took a turn trying to hold one. The key is to barely touch it and let it just sit there in your arms while keeping them underwater. It was a little tricky getting the hang of it.
The water is crystal clear so it was easy to see all the stingrays swimming around. Plus I loved that it was only 3 to 4 feet deep and we could stand. I did use a snorkel mask to see them better underwater.
We stayed in the water for about 45 minutes. The only negative was the crowds and they really weren’t that bad. There were plenty of stingrays swimming around all of us.
Snorkeling & Sailing
Our excursion included a snorkeling spot by the barrier reef and sailing back to the island.
We enjoyed the snorkeling portion of the trip as well. We were very close to the reef, so we got to see the fish swimming in and out of them. This is the closest I’ve snorkeled next to a reef.
The water was about 10 to 12 feet deep in some places, so there was no standing up here. On the other side of the reef, the water drops thousands of feet! The picture below captures the depths by the change in water color.
This portion was about 45 minutes as well. The crew lifted the sails and we made our way back to the island.
They provided water, lemonade and a cash bar.
Overall, we LOVED this experience! It was the highlight of our entire trip and would do it again!
Tips for Swimming With Stingrays in Grand Cayman:
- Wear coral reef safe sunscreen! We want to protect those amazing reefs!
- Bring water and snacks. The tours are at least 3 hours, but ours took closer to 5.
- Bring a waterproof protector for your phone, so you can get amazing shots. Mine hung on my neck, so I never had to worry about losing it. Or bring an underwater camera.
- Listen to all the instructions the guide gives you!
- Do not wear water shoes or sandals. You can accidentally step on a stingray and hurt it.
Have you been to Grand Cayman? I can’t wait to come back and see more of the island!
