StingRay City

[Luckyfishrag]

I am going to Grand Cayman and want to go interact with the rays at Sting Ray City. Sounds fun. The thing I am wondering is should I scuba dive or snorkel? Which would offer the best interaction. I have heard that it is a very shallow area. Also, does anyone know of a reputable outfit to take me there and make it happen? I am going to be on a cruise to time is of the essence.
Lucky

[dallasM5]

Probably most of the people on this board have been to SRC as have I (last in 1998). When I first heard of it and the name, I thought it was a tourist trap. After going, I thought it was awesome. I snorkled and thought it was great. It's so shallow that most places you stand up and shuffle your feet to avoid stepping on them. You can hold them and feed them from your palm. They will swarm around you (and the food, of course) such that there will be 20+ at any one time. The only person with SCUBA grear was the photographer from the boat.

Enjoy!

[wb416]

Luckyfishrag once bubbled...
I am going to Grand Cayman and want to go interact with the rays at Sting Ray City. Sounds fun. The thing I am wondering is should I scuba dive or snorkel? Which would offer the best interaction. I have heard that it is a very shallow area. Also, does anyone know of a reputable outfit to take me there and make it happen? I am going to be on a cruise to time is of the essence.
Lucky

I've enjoyed diving with them twice at Stingray City (12ft deep), but that's probably enough for me. I had allot of interaction on scuba. My wife (non-diver) snorkeled above me on my first trip there and said it was okay. A couple of years later, I did it again but she did the Stingray Sandbar (?2-3ft) and enjoyed the interraction immensely.

Better stick with an outfit that coordinates with your cruise ship to avoid timing problems. Personally, I tried to time things to avoid the cruise ship crowds, so I'm not sure what would work out best for you.


DallasM5 once bubbled...
Probably most of the people on this board have been to SRC as have I (last in 1998). When I first heard of it and the name, I thought it was a tourist trap. After going, I thought it was awesome. I snorkled and thought it was great. It's so shallow that most places you stand up and shuffle your feet to avoid stepping on them.

Dallasm5 -Actually, you did the Sandbar... not the diving portion. And to assume that everyone here has done it, or has even been to Grand Cayman, would be greatly exaggerated.

[CincyBengalsFan]

Luckyfishrag once bubbled...
I am going to Grand Cayman and want to go interact with the rays at Sting Ray City. Sounds fun. The thing I am wondering is should I scuba dive or snorkel? Which would offer the best interaction. I have heard that it is a very shallow area. Also, does anyone know of a reputable outfit to take me there and make it happen? I am going to be on a cruise to time is of the essence.
Lucky

I've been to Sting Ray City twice and loved it both times. Scuba Dive it. What most people don't know is that there are 2 sting ray cities in that North Sound in Grand Cayman. 1 is shallow for the snorkelers and the other is 12-16 ft. deep for the divers. If you Scuba you can also dive some small coral croppings that are home to some great fish and a Moray Eel they call Psycho. The eel is very tamed and will let you pet it. My wife even got to interact with the sting rays and the eel on her 7th dive of her life. Take a disposible camera with you for some great pics of the eel and the rays.

Dive Dive Dive it, and hopefully you can not only pet the rays you can pet the eel.

[caymaniac]

CincyBengalsFan once bubbled...


I've been to Sting Ray City twice and loved it both times. Scuba Dive it. What most people don't know is that there are 2 sting ray cities in that North Sound in Grand Cayman. 1 is shallow for the snorkelers and the other is 12-16 ft. deep for the divers.
Dive Dive Dive it, and hopefully you can not only pet the rays you can pet the eel.

The snorkel area is called the"Sandbar" as the previous poster commented. You can at this area stand above the water.
The other area "Stingray City" is where you can snorkel but it is where most people dive.
My first experience with the eel was when I wasn't looking, he crawled into my BC and looped around my back and came out the other side, quite exciting to say the least! :wacko:

Dive Safe,
Caymaniac

[Luckyfishrag]

This is sounding so cool... I would like to meet Psycho if I am lucky enough. I hope to meet him on one of his happy days. So, if we dive it at Stingray City, instead of going to Stingray sandbar, what outfitter do you recommend that we use? I would like to line it all up ahead of time. And time is runing out!
Thank you so much for your previous posts. It really helps to have people out there who have traveled the path before.
Thanks again!

[CincyBengalsFan]

Luckyfishrag once bubbled...
This is sounding so cool... I would like to meet Psycho if I am lucky enough. I hope to meet him on one of his happy days. So, if we dive it at Stingray City, instead of going to Stingray sandbar, what outfitter do you recommend that we use? I would like to line it all up ahead of time. And time is runing out!
Thank you so much for your previous posts. It really helps to have people out there who have traveled the path before.
Thanks again!

I have a friend that just landed on G. Cayman yesterday. He's diving with 3 different outfits over 3 days. We're trying to find out who's the best. He'll be back on Friday and I'll let you know what he had to say. I've dove with Don Foster's, Surfside and 1 other I believe. All were great and nobody had a cattle boat that I was with.

[caymaniac]

Hey Luckyfishrag, a safe bet would be Fisheye, I've used them several times in the past and they were great.

Dive Safe,
Caymaniac :D

[CincyBengalsFan]

I've heard good things about fisheye too. I've also heard excellent things about DiveTech.

[Washy]

CincyBengalsFan once bubbled...


a Moray Eel they call Psycho. The eel is very tamed and will let you pet it.

Dive Dive Dive it, and hopefully you can not only pet the rays you can pet the eel.

If it's the same eel that I've seen there (a large green moray), which I thought was called Eekie (or something) then please be careful. I saw a DM almost loose his finger and had a stay in hospital courtesy of an eel at the sandbar.

The rays are v.friendly though - watch out for "Darth Vader" a playful ray who is jet black in colour....

[CincyBengalsFan]

Washy once bubbled...


If it's the same eel that I've seen there (a large green moray), which I thought was called Eekie (or something) then please be careful. I saw a DM almost loose his finger and had a stay in hospital courtesy of an eel at the sandbar.

The rays are v.friendly though - watch out for "Darth Vader" a playful ray who is jet black in colour....

The eel I'm referring to lives in 16 ft. of water and won't come out in the daylight unless there is some chow in his face.

[Drew Sailbum]

and several dive guides have been seriously bitten by one or more of them. Long hospitalizations, serious infections, and possible loss of fingers can result from a bite from one of these eels.

I do not recommend interacting with any of the eels there. They are not "friendly." Eels have extremely poor eyesight and hunt by smell. With all of the food in the water, they can have difficulty distinguishing your fingers from lunch.

Various names have been used for these eels. Bruce and Psycho are a couple more names given to these large green morays.

[CincyBengalsFan]

While I must agree, don't interact with the eel. It's not the end of the world if you do. You can touch his tail as he swims by for example. Anybody that lives on G. Cayman should halfway know how an eel acts and behaves.

Don't ever GRAB the eel but lightly touch it if you get the chance. Don't force the chance. It's a once in a lifetime oppotunity.

He's 100% correct about the eels having poor eye site. They are nocturnal creatures and feed by smell at night. Never attempt to touch one at night as they will be out free swimming when you see them then.

[Luckyfishrag]

Now that I havea decided that I need to DIVE stingray city, I am having a booger of a time booking it. Seems that everyone that I e-mail hasn't responded yet. Really didn't want to get on a cattle boat, but I am running out of days. Any ideas?
Lucky
Thank you for all of your posts....

[CincyBengalsFan]

Luckyfishrag once bubbled...
Now that I havea decided that I need to DIVE stingray city, I am having a booger of a time booking it. Seems that everyone that I e-mail hasn't responded yet. Really didn't want to get on a cattle boat, but I am running out of days. Any ideas?
Lucky
Thank you for all of your posts....

Try to get on the horn with them is my only suggestion.

[richhagelin]

An operation called Captain Marvin's does a good job of getting cruisers to the stingrays and still getting back to the boat on time. Used it for the non-divers in our group last time.

I dove with Neptune's Divers and was very pleased.

Rich

[mjnansen]

Hi-
My husband and I were on the Norwegian Sun in March and had the same problem- I really wanted to go diving with the stingrays. Luckily we found Absolute Divers and they were great! It was probably a little more expensive than other operators but it was like having a charter- only one other couple on a very nice boat They picked us up, took us for a couple of dives and got us back in time to get on the ship and relax. I really think the Stingray city dive has been my very favorite dive so far (still a beginner), but we got great pictures and interacting with the rays was very cool! Have fun!

[JRO]

Hi Luckyfishrag,

Definetly worth throwing a tank on your back for this one!!!

If you can get a hold of FishEye(FishEye.com), I would suggest them strongly without reservation. I just got back from diving with them in Sept. Great bunch of people, very helpful and Bart is a damn riot when you can figure out what the hell the punch line was(the Brit accent and slang can be tough). Also, if you're looking for a video or some pics, this is kind of their specialty (I took a videography course from them while I was there).

From talking to other divers I met down there, there aren't any really bad ops on the island with Red Sail being the only possible exception (the only bad input was to many divers on a trip).

Whatever it takes, you've gotta check this one out.
:snap:
Jeff

[ScubaK-Dawg]

Definitely dive it. I went with Red sail and they were a great operation.

[ScubaK-Dawg]

Now that I think of it, I have a picture of psycho from my trip. Here he is...

[caymancase]

"Now that I havea decided that I need to DIVE stingray city, I am having a booger of a time booking it. Seems that everyone that I e-mail hasn't responded yet. Really didn't want to get on a cattle boat, but I am running out of days. Any ideas?
Lucky
Thank you for all of your posts...."

Hey Lucky! I responded to your emails :) Unfortunately we already have a 9 AM 2 tank trip booked.
I think that your major problem is that you arrive at 9:30. By the time you tender to shore and meet up, that makes it around 10-10-30. Most ops here depart for their trips at 7, 8 or 9 AM.
If you do not want to go with the cruise ship's excursion, probably your only option is to find an operation available for a private charter. Try to hunt up some folks that will be on your ship to share the cost. You can send out the word here, go to cruisecritic.com, etc. Good luck!

[RoatanMan]

The Sting Ray City dive is one of the best reasons to dive Cayman (for 90% of divers).

It's a great experience. Listen to the pre dive briefing, but I suggest an extra TEN POUNDS of lead (15# is better) as you really want to plunk your butt on the sand.

The less thrashing around the better.

Do not worry about cattle boats and what that conjures up in your mind. This is a dive venue perfectly suited to a "cattle boat" operation.

Pontoon boats, marginal room, suit up, slide in, feed the rays, watch the DM's tease the Morays, flop back on to the boat, go home. 20' max depth.

Go, have fun.

[jhspb]

Hey Casey

Do you guys do regular SRC afternoon dives. I'm down the weekend of the 22 Nov and will be planning to take my newly (as in Sunday morning 23 Nov) jr certified son to SRC on either the 23 or 24 Nov, more likely the 24th.

Also what days do you do night dives (this would be w/out the junior diver)?

Thanks

Joe

[sharon]

I think doing a dive or snorkle would be equally as great. I do second the recommendation for diving to pack on extra weight for that dive only. It will only make you more stable in the water with all the rays swimming about. Even if you get on a cattle type boat, there is always room to move out from the crowd and hang on the edge and enjoy yourself without worrying about being bumped by others. You will only be in 15-20feet of water. Hope you have a great time. This also would be my only recommendation of taking a cattle boat anywhere, six packs are worth the extra cash anytime.

[busted]

When I went on the SRC dive everybody was talking about the stingrays leaving marks on your exposed skin, mistaking it for food. This is no big deal. They suck in their food and they will only do this to your exposed skin if they smell food on it.

[jeffcali]

someone mentioned absolute divers...i must concur...mark is an excellent guide, capt., and dm. he is a little more expensive because it is literally a private charter. he does his very best to meet your schedule. www.absolutedivers.com

if you have food on your skin and a ray sucks on to it...it will hurt. they have incredible sucking power, and since our skin is plyable...it will suck a little skin into his jaws and start grinding it back and forth. so it is suggested to not handle food then rub your arms or the like unless you like all that attention :D

i know this is a month later...but hopefully this will help some to someone :)

the mora is very cool...just keep your fingers close to a fist and remember he'll be where you don't expect him to be. he's hungry all the time and will come out of his various lairs and while you're swimming around you just might feel something silky in your bc, or around your arms and the like. don't freak....just relax and enjoy the experience.

since a lot of videographers like to play tricks on nature...they rub squid oil on their lenses so the eel will smell this and run right into the lens so they get the great shot...this is good and bad...because with their cartorax (sp?) they can't see and they'll run into your mask thinking it's a camera lens with squid oil on it. some people really don't enjoy this...but me, i loved it!!!

looking right down a mora's mouth with all those teeth smiling at you...inches away from your eyes...excellent!!!!

hope you have or had a great time and many more to all....