EXBRIT Posted January 29, 2005 #1 Share Posted January 29, 2005 Has anyone been (or know of anyone) who has been stung by a stingray at the stingray city sand bar in Grand Caymen? My daughter is unconfortable with going so I would like to find out if there is a real possibility of her being stung. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimholland6 Posted January 29, 2005 #2 Share Posted January 29, 2005 my brother actually got stung by a stingray when we were growing up, I am 25 now. At south padre island. it was pretty bad. it puts a hole in your foot. which is why i was terrified at stingray city about 2 years ago. but everyone else there had a blast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted January 30, 2005 #3 Share Posted January 30, 2005 I've been to stingray city several times and have never been stung, never seen or heard of anyone being stung when I was there, or know anyone that can say otherwise. I'm sure some probably have been stung, but they would have had to be really abusive to a stingray to get stung. It would not be by accident. The stingrays there are as close to domesticated as they can be. It is not natural for stingrays in the wild to swim among people - those at stingray city are used to people and are hanging out for the free food. They are not agressive at all. Their behavior reminds me of a dog trying to convince you to give them a treat. They are VERY tolerant. I would not be surprised if your daughter decided she wants one for a pet! The stinger on a stingray is purely for defense. In the wild, people will typically get stung when they step on a stingray that has buried itself in the sand. You won't see that at Stingray City - the stingrays are constantly moving trying to find where the next handout is coming from. There is nothing that says your daughter has to get off of the boat at the sandbar. She can take her time and usually the crews are good at helping people overcome their fears. Without a doubt, stingray city is one of the best excursions you can do anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matcris77381 Posted January 30, 2005 #4 Share Posted January 30, 2005 Was stung last October in Florida while innocently floating in the water - still have the hole in my foot. Having said that, I agree with above poster - we've done sting ray city twice and had a great time. It should not be missed. And the rays there are used to clumsy people thrashing around. It certainly didn't seem to bother them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted January 30, 2005 #5 Share Posted January 30, 2005 Well that settles it! I know someone that was stung in Mississippi. Therefore your odds of being stung by a stingray are much greater in the United States than in Grand Cayman surrounded by stingrays! But the original question remains, does anyone get stung at stingray city. I think the odds are very, very slim and almost always deserved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbieSu Posted February 8, 2005 #6 Share Posted February 8, 2005 While we were there last week we heard rumors of rumors from someone who knew someone,,etc, that there are about 2-3 stings a year at stingray sand bar. If that is true I agree it would have to have been abusive. Anywhere else the stingrays would be wild, but these seemed incredibly tolerant. When they interact with screaming and clumsy people everyday, when they let you hold them and rub them, I think they have learned to be "tame". I was not frightened a bit, but intrigued and curious. There was a 5 or 6 year old on our tour who screamed and kicked and still the rays came to her to say hello, which of course made her scream and kick more. She quit screaming eventually but I don't know if that is because she calmed down or because they took her back to the boat. I was too involved in watching sting rays to notice. Su Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess-of-Quite-alot Posted February 9, 2005 #7 Share Posted February 9, 2005 I once stepped on a stingray at a beach in Mexico....short of childbirth, that was the worst stinging owie ever! I had no fears later on snorkeling at Stingray City..if it makes you feel better, shuffle your feet in the sand.....that way you wouldn't step on one. It's way worth it to pet those stingrays..go and have the time of your life! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nynewfies Posted February 10, 2005 #8 Share Posted February 10, 2005 We loved stingray city and no one got stung, but something else did happen to us. My son (about 13 at the time) was somehow reluctant to feed the stingray. My husband and I were having a great time and encouraging to go ahead. He finally put his hand down with a bit of food. Suddenly he yelped and pulled his hand out of the water. I was wearing a mask and immediately looked into the water to see what had happened. A large-ish toothy fish was swimming away happily gulping down the food. We still kid our son that he is possibly the only person on the planet to have been mugged by a fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzlova Posted February 17, 2005 #9 Share Posted February 17, 2005 I'm going to Stingray City in November.. I was planning to wear water shoes just in case. Do most people go barefoot? I don't want to look silly... :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted February 18, 2005 #10 Share Posted February 18, 2005 I'm going to Stingray City in November.. I was planning to wear water shoes just in case. Do most people go barefoot? I don't want to look silly... :o Everybody goes barefoot. Just in case what:confused: Watershoes wouldn't help, anywho. :eek: On one catamaran (Cockatoo) they made us leave our shoes ON THE DOCK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marge M Posted February 18, 2005 #11 Share Posted February 18, 2005 I'm going to Stingray City in November.. I was planning to wear water shoes just in case. Do most people go barefoot? I don't want to look silly... :o I don't believe you are allowed to wear shoes in the water at Stingray City. I'm sure this is to protect the rays. Holes in your feet??? Sounds painful! How big are the holes? LOL at the "mugged by a fish" story, that was too funny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbisson Posted February 18, 2005 #12 Share Posted February 18, 2005 We loved stingray city and no one got stung, but something else did happen to us. My son (about 13 at the time) was somehow reluctant to feed the stingray. My husband and I were having a great time and encouraging to go ahead. He finally put his hand down with a bit of food. Suddenly he yelped and pulled his hand out of the water. I was wearing a mask and immediately looked into the water to see what had happened. A large-ish toothy fish was swimming away happily gulping down the food. We still kid our son that he is possibly the only person on the planet to have been mugged by a fish. When we were there in December, I saw a small (18-24 inch?) Barricuda lurking around just outside the swarm of people. I wasn't sure at first that's what I saw but pointed it out to a couple others (including a guide) and sure enough, that's what it was. -Monte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookduster Posted February 18, 2005 #13 Share Posted February 18, 2005 We were at Stingray City last week with Soto's Cruises and had a great time. There were only 10 onboard so we had a lot of personalized attention from the guides. Yes, there was a barracuda but he's harmless. My daughter (age 30) got a "hickey" on her arm from a female stingray she was holding. We had been warned ahead of time that this occasionally happens, and we think what happened was the guide was feeding the ray pieces of squid while my daughter was holding her, and the scent of the squid may have gotten on my daughters arm. It left a bruise on her arm and she complained it was painful at first, but she'd be the first one to jump right back in the water with the rays again. I have photos of Erin and her stingray friend posted, feel free to take a look. http://www.lkonley.photosite.com/cruise/stringraycity/?page=2 Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdls22198 Posted February 19, 2005 #14 Share Posted February 19, 2005 I have been to String Ray City twice now.The first with the ship excursion with seemed like 200 people, hard to get close. The second time we went with Cpt Marvin booked over the net. Only about ten to fifteen on board, a much better trip feeding the rays and on the coral reef they feed conger's for the group to photograph. No sting's or anyone getting close to stung but a great up front and personel experince. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruise-aholicRN Posted February 20, 2005 #15 Share Posted February 20, 2005 I have been to Sting Ray City 3 times now. I love every interaction I have had there. The Sting Rays are indeed gentle and tame. It is possible to accidently step on them since there are so many, however, I was stung trying to hold one for a picture......she was getting upset and we should have just let go. Let me please clarify what the "sting" is. It is not a venomous sting like a wasp or a bee. They have a sharp projection on their back/tail like a great big thorn on a rose. I ended up with a scratch not much different than that of a cat. There really is no reason to fear these beautiful, graceful creatures. T.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted February 21, 2005 #16 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I have been to Sting Ray City 3 times now. I love every interaction I have had there. The Sting Rays are indeed gentle and tame. It is possible to accidently step on them since there are so many, however, I was stung trying to hold one for a picture......she was getting upset and we should have just let go. Let me please clarify what the "sting" is. It is not a venomous sting like a wasp or a bee. They have a sharp projection on their back/tail like a great big thorn on a rose. I ended up with a scratch not much different than that of a cat. There really is no reason to fear these beautiful, graceful creatures. T.J. Actually they are venomous, but the chances of a real sting at stingray city are very remote. http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/topics/lh_stingray_city.htm The ridge along the back is another area to try to avoid which can scratch. I accidently picked one up out of the water once upon a time and it let me know it was not pleased, but even then, it didn't try to sting me. :cool: The business end: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bld24 Posted March 19, 2005 #17 Share Posted March 19, 2005 I had a friend that was stung a few years ago while fishing here locally. She likewise compared it to childbirth. It did put a hole(not a gaping hole, more like a puncture wound), from one side of her ankle to the other-back by her heel. I think it's probably like stepping on a nail plus the added pain of the venom. It hurts, but it won't kill you. Fortunately missed tendons, etc. She knows the shuffle, but got distracted by something and stepped instead of shuffling and got stung. It really was a fluke. I wouldn't have any fear of doing the singray swim. Her advice for anyone who is stung, is to put your foot in warm fresh water, it takes the sting away immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellig Posted March 19, 2005 #18 Share Posted March 19, 2005 I have been to Sting Ray City 3 times now. I love every interaction I have had there. The Sting Rays are indeed gentle and tame. It is possible to accidently step on them since there are so many, however, I was stung trying to hold one for a picture......she was getting upset and we should have just let go. Let me please clarify what the "sting" is. It is not a venomous sting like a wasp or a bee. They have a sharp projection on their back/tail like a great big thorn on a rose. I ended up with a scratch not much different than that of a cat. There really is no reason to fear these beautiful, graceful creatures. T.J. I think you didn't get a true sting if it was only a cat scratch. I have seen a patient who had a true sting (more like a puncture wound), that ended up not healing well, and the infectious disease specialist is still working 6 months later to get the wound to heal up. Which when it does he will have a residual large deep hole in the top of his foot. All in all it does sound like this possibility is small at Stingray city, considering the thousands of guests that go there. We plan on doing it in May, but I have to admit that I am nervous after seeing the hole in this guy's foot. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbean98 Posted March 20, 2005 #19 Share Posted March 20, 2005 Won't water shoes help if you are swimming out on a beach somewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladycaveat Posted March 20, 2005 #20 Share Posted March 20, 2005 Oh my goodness . . . when I swan with the stingrays in Belize no one got stung by one (at least no one I knew of). I plan to do the Sting Ray Swim in Grand Caymans next month. How often does this happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daWoods Posted March 20, 2005 #21 Share Posted March 20, 2005 This topic came up during our last visit to the rays last year, and we were told, I think by the young man holding the ray in the above photo, that it does happen rarely, and only if you step on one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellya Posted March 21, 2005 #22 Share Posted March 21, 2005 Our guide told us that he had been stung once in his life (on his knee). Considering he is out there every day doing the catching, I think it is pretty safe to say that if you stand relatively still nothing will happen to you. I would not recommend making large sudden movements since the rays are swimming about under the water and you might not know one was underfoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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