Advice on Stingrays with hesitant child!

[createmem]

We really wanted to do a Stingray tour - and had looked at one privately that does snorkeling and stringrays from a private boat. The problem is my daughter - who is 11 1/2 is very scared of water with the stingrays. She has petted them before - at Seaworld - but was very young then.

 

So is there a tour that lets you either stay on the boat, or walk in to see the rays at your own pace? I think once she is there and sees everyone and that it is fine, she will be okay to go, but she needs to get to that point.

 

Thanks!

[bookbabe]

So is there a tour that lets you either stay on the boat, or walk in to see the rays at your own pace?

 

Most tours have that option. You always see lots of people still on the boat, just enjoying the view and the antics of those in the water.

 

Is it the stingrays themselves that she's not crazy about? Or is it the idea of being in the water with loose animals?

[createmem]

Not 100% sure - when we have gone to the "beach" before - she has a fear of fish swimming around her. Which is why we don't swim at lakes locally. But she keeps talking about Steve Irwin and the stingrays - so I am not certain which fear is holding her back.

 

Neither of us are strong swimmers, and I am not a huge fan of snorkeling with masks and such, but I heard this water was only waist deep - so that won't be an issue. If we can ease in at a slow pace - I think she might be okay. She also may very well enjoy watching them from a small distance.

[patronus]

My wife was the same way the only difference being she is a strong swimmer.

 

When we were there on May 29th the water was literally waist deep and at a refreshing temp.

 

You can also remind her that the ray that killed Irwin was 100% wild ... these rays are used to humans being in the water and are tame ... like deer or goats at the petting zoo.

 

Most tours will let you in at your own pace and if you are going on a private boat with you as the sole customers you can ask them for more time at stingray city instead of going to the snorkeling stops.

 

Oh and bring your own waterprrof camera because they will charge $50 up for a CD of the photos they take of you.

[capncarp]

If your DD is reluctant, just get her to the sandbar; if she is inspired to enter the waist-deep water when all the people are having a grand time interacting with the rays, then you might escort her into the water and stay by her, adding a measure of security to the situation.

You might try petting the rays yourself first, to show her they are quite placid, velvety-smooth, and just looking for a handout. Inform her of the ways to make sure she is safe--shuffle, don't step, and don't hold the ray so that the mouth is over your arm--and let her make her own moves.

Just take her step by step to her comfort level and allow her to have the best time she feels at ease with. If at any time she wishes to return to the boat, escort her there, help her back in, and tell her you'll be "just over there" with the rays so she can see where you are.

Oh, and tell her they have the most beautiful eyes; I got the serious impression that *I* was part of the rays' entertainment venue when they looked at me.;)

[nolaAlive]

None of the tours require anyone to enter the water. It is not that unusual to have some stay on the boat. Often crew members will bring stingrays to the boat, if desired.

 

The stingrays at the sandbar are accustomed to humans and will remind you a lot of a pet begging for food, which they are doing. They are very tolerant and might rub up against you as if to get you to give them a treat.

 

Of course, no one has to feed them or hold them if they don't want to.

 

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There are many types of stingrays and you will not find the kind (a bullray) that killed Steve Irwin anywhere near Grand Cayman. But no stingrays are aggressive - they have no offensive capability. The stinger is purely for defense and only used if they feel threatened. They cannot aim or direct it at someone - most of the people who are stung step on a ray resting on the bottom.

 

The stingrays at the Sandbar are far from resting - they are actively begging, as previously mentioned.

 

I have seen kids younger than 11 at the sandbar.

[ricks2047]

Both my boys were younger than that when we went. Since they are young, the water was not waist deep for them but up around their chests. My youngest (about 8 at the time) got in the water for a while but was a little freeked out, so he got back on the boat and just watched. My older boy (about 10 at the time) had a blast. The stingrays were climbing all over him and right up his back. (As a reference, this cruise was the first time that they had learned to snorkle, and they both loved the fish all around them. So this is somewhat different than your situation). We did a ship excursion and it was a mob sceen with three other boats in the same location of the sand-bar. A private tour would be heavenly.

[bookbabe]

A lot of your enjoyment will also depend on the waves that day. If the water is calm, the sandbar is very enjoyable, since you can just walk around in the knee-to-armpit-deep water (different areas have different depths) and pet the stingrays at your leisure. If the water is rough, the waves tend to knock you and the stingrays over, and even in the shallower areas it's tough to keep your footing. If the water is really rough, they'll likely cancel the excursion. :(

 

Either way, she'll likely still enjoy the excursion from the boat...it's fun to people-watch there. I've gone out on a busy "cruise ship" day just for that...it's a blast seeing people's reactions... :D

[createmem]

I am going to plan on taking her - looking at a private tour vs the cruise line. She will either do it or not. Likely she will enjoy watching - but I am betting she will at least pet them if she can do so in a way that is comfortable to her.

 

Thanks for the input!