Stingray City, Help me convince my DH

[kellanrevere]

I want to touch the stingrays, I think this is what I am most looking forward to on our Cruise.

 

Every time I bring it up DH says we can do it but I can tell the hesitation in his voice. I had planned to book on the Cockatoo Catamaran, thinking the boat ride out would be nice. All DH kept saying was "you know you will be out in open water". I couldn't figure out what his objection was, Deep water ? Seasick ? Pirates? WHAT? I finally got him to admit he is afraid of game fish and sharks...

 

How far out is the sandbar and what are the real chances of Jaws? DH is not a chicken... this is very surprising to me but I need to be able to reassure him.

 

thanks

Kelly

[hadleys9538]

We went last year on Spring break to Stingray City, and took our then 15-year-old son and then-6-year-old daughter. We had a blast. You're basically on a sand bar, and can actually touch bottom, but they had vests on us, so we could pretty much relax in the water. As our catamaran approached, you could see many, many of these giant creatures coming towards it. It was quite a sight, and I will admit a little intimidating when you see them all coming out to meet your boat! My DH was a little skittish too (and he's a master scuba diver), but the rays were very gentle. What concerned me most as we got into the water was not stepping on them and hurting them! They would literally get right under foot, and I was, at first, trying to hold onto DD, and got knocked off of my feet a few times. Within minutes, she was very comfortable meeting them on her own, and DH chilled out as well. DD and DS both held one, and we were all able to hand feed them as well. As soon as we ran out of food though, they lost interest in us. It was a really neat experience, and I'm sure you would both be very happy you did it. The water if very, very clear, so you can see well, and there was no sign of anything deadly, just those gentle giant rays and a few assorted fish.

[dot73]

I did the stingray excursion a couple of years ago and it was the highlight of my cruise. People are so impressed when you show them a picture of yourself holding a huge stingray. The water was up to my waist (I'm only 5 feet tall) and I never lost my balance. I wore water shoes and a life preserver (a very light one). The only person who got stung by a stingray's tail was an obnoxious teenage boy who was trying to step on them on purpose. As for sharks, I have done a lot of snorkelling in the Caribbean and have yet to see one. If your DH doesn't want to get in the water, why doesn't he just stay on the boat and take pictures of you? Why don't you just go by yourself while he does something else. Take a ship excursion so you will know some of the people on the tour. Do not miss this excursion if you want to really do it; life is too short to miss out on fun things.

[Tarheelbelle]

Sounds like the water was very shallow---1-3 feet at the sand bar?

[98Charlie]

Kelly, first may I say I am terrified of water, won't go close to swimming pools and will only take a dip in a hot tub when I'm holding on to something stable attached to the side. Love to cruise on ships, can tolerate boat rides while I hold on to my life jacket -- yet my trip to Stingray City last year is one of the highlights of my life. No jaws, no biting fish around, just a multitude of beautiful, velvety stingrays swimming all about me, waiting for a pet and a bite of bait offered from my hand.

 

And about the depth of that water at the sandbar - I'm five foot tall. Water came up above my breast bone the day we were there. Maybe we just happened to be there at high tide? Actually, I've been told water depth depends on what side and area of the sandbar you disembark on.

 

Hope DH decides to make the trip. I am so glad I decided to go - and that's one excursion I once thought I would never take.

[Tarheelbelle]

Kelly, first may I say I am terrified of water, won't go close to swimming pools and will only take a dip in a hot tub when I'm holding on to something stable attached to the side. Love to cruise on ships, can tolerate boat rides while I hold on to my life jacket -- yet my trip to Stingray City last year is one of the highlights of my life. No jaws, no biting fish around, just a multitude of beautiful, velvety stingrays swimming all about me, waiting for a pet and a bite of bait offered from my hand.

 

And about the depth of that water at the sandbar - I'm five foot tall. Water came up above my breast bone the day we were there. Maybe we just happened to be there at high tide? Actually, I've been told water depth depends on what side and area of the sandbar you disembark on.

 

Hope DH decides to make the trip. I am so glad I decided to go - and that's one excursion I once thought I would never take.

So you sound like your attitude about water is about like mine! Did you snorkel or did you stand up to look at the rays?

 

Lynn

Chapel Hill, NC

[98Charlie]

Lynn: I will stand and pet a fish or even a stingray, but you will never see me snorkel. I can't put my head under water, not even with a mask. I was able to stand in the water on my own two feet at the sandbar - but only with the aid of my husband's swim trunks. I kept holding on to his trunks and thank goodness the waist string on his swimsuit was unforgiving.

 

If I can do that and enjoy it, anyone should be able to have fun. It's an experience one will always remember - and - others on our excursion were a bit leary about the water as well as me. Our guides and other passengers looked out for all of us who were wary of the event. Made it an even more special day at sea with passenger friends.

[zydecocruiser]

No chance of jaws. Husband doesn't even have to get in the water if he doesn't want to. I've been to the sand bar several times including on the Cockatoo. I'll see if I can find some pictures to post.

[zydecocruiser]

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[lszu]

In case he needs any more convincing...Snorkling with the stingrays is one of the best shore excursions we've ever done. The water isn't deep, but I have a feeling it changes since some one here had said she is 5' and it was up to her waist. I'm around 5'2" and it was up to my shoulders. I could still stand, although I did keep checking to make sure I wasn't standing on ray.

 

There will be so many people there, there is no chance of a shark approaching.

 

Don't recall how long the ride to the sand bar was - maybe 1/2 hr.?

 

Try really hard to talk him into going. This is easily one of the coolest things we've ever done (DH says so, too).

[kellanrevere]

I appreciate everyone's input. DH will go with me and says he gets a kick out of watching me enjoy myself but I would really like to convince him to get in the water , too. Hopefully all of your posts will do the trick.

 

I am very surprised at his hesitation as I am the Water Chicken ! He is much more comfortable in the water than I am.

 

Kelly

[zydecocruiser]

Well, it's a start.

 

Forgot to mention, if you don't know, sting rays have no teeth.

[Tarheelbelle]

Thanks for the info, 98Charlie!!!

[kellanrevere]

Hey 98Charlie... What is is about heads and water? I am the same way , I can bob along enough to not fear of the water per say but I feel like I will drown when I have my face under the shower. I REALLY don't like my head in the water. My mother and grandmother were the same way, LOL

 

Update.. We booked with Captain Bryan this morning. Thanks again everybody.

[Caribbean Dreamer]

My wife and I went on the stingray city excursion last October. My wife does not swim well andis afraid of deep water. I thought we would be at the shallow sandbar so it would work out well. When I got the tickets they said it was deep water! I didn't tell my wife thinking she wouldn't go. When we got out there she was nervous. She wanted to be the last one off the boat, and I convinced her to just ease in. To my surprize, once she got used to it, I almost couldn't get her to get back in the boat when it was time to go. This time she insists that we snorkel at least twice. Believe me, once you try it you will never forget or regret it!!! :cool:

[jeraboa]

I can honestly say this was one of the neatest/most original things I have ever done. I was slightly hesitant at first, but the rays are so docile. They're gentle and remind me of an underwater dog that rubs up against your leg. I know they really didn't want me to pet them and just wanted the food, but it was a very cool experience. Their mouths are underneath and you hold the chum in your hand- they swoop over and suck it right out of your hand. Pretty awesome!!! I'm short (5'3") and when we were there, the water was about to my chest. There were no problems with anyone in our tour- and there was probably 50 people. No stings. Just great memories and pictures. Once you get him out there, he won't be able to stop himself from jumping in!! Have a blast and take a water camera!!!!

[dbarry]

You are going to have a great stingray experience. My family hired Captain Bryan for our trip to Stingray City Sandbar. We were on the Buccaneer, (the blue catamaran). They also have a red one, (the Hannabul). We had an awesome time. The crew was great. I don't know if he is still there, but Lee from Jamaica was our "in the water guide" and he was terrific with the rays. I saw him KISS the tail of two different stingrays! No stings! They only sting in defense, you'd have to step on one to get stung. I was going to stay onboard the boat but after my granddaughter jumped in first, I thought I'd better go and look out for her. No need. We went to another spot close by and just about everyone got in the water to snorkle. I stayed onboard and enjoyed the serenity there. Captain Bryan's catamarans have areas to sit. I noticed that the Cockatoo looked like the only place to sit was on the "tarp". I think that there was only about 15-18 people onboard. If you contact them they will send a videographer along on your tour. The cost of the video was about $50, sounds kind of expensive I know but the video is of great quality and one of my favorite cruise souvenirs. Have a great time!

 

Darlene

[DEERINH2O]

This is the reason we are taking our kids this Thanksgiving. We went for the first time last October and let me tell you , it was the highlight of our trip... My DH couldn't wait to take the kids, we used Nativeways and this year we are chartering a private boat with them, I was so scared at first, my DH was first in, I think I was near the end... It is an awesome sight to see the Stingrays, once I got in, you couldn't get me out, as a matter of fact, my DH and I were always last on the boat.

Have fun and you won't regret it and your DH will join in.

[Nana Dawn]

Took Carnival Triumph out on 10/30 and was one of the first ships to return to Grand Cayman on 11/3. DH and I liked seeing the stingrays so much last year we decided to take the whole family this year. I was anxious for my kids/grandkids to see them and see them they did! Water was pretty choppy and depth chest high when we got off the boat, however, a short walk put us in waist high water (for a 5'8" person). 3 out of 4 grands were a little overwhelmed with the rays (especially the females...they are huge) and preferred to be as far away from them as possible. But the 15 year old loved them. Took to feeding, holding and getting a "stingray massage" very well. It can be intimidating if everyone jumps off the boat at the same time with the feeding bucket nearby. They know food is coming and go looking for it. If you move slowly (so you don't step on them) they are beautiful to watch. A word of caution, if you feed them don't wipe your hands on your suit or body anywhere because they will find the scent and try to suck it off you. The only other fish we saw was one with a very long nose called a Gar but they didn't bother us.