Stingray City | PHOTOS | VIDEO

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:14 pm Post subject: Stingray City | PHOTOS | VIDEO

WARNING: Not all Stingray City companies are the same! Be absolutely certain to make your reservations with a highly personalized operation such as Soto's Cruises or Oh Boy Charters to ensure the most affordable crowd-free experiences.

Stingray City is Cayman's number one attraction and consistently rated the number one dive/snorkel site by virtually every international dive publication. Don't get stuck on one of the many cattle boats taking 100 or more passengers! We only recommend the most personal and non-crowded operators: Soto's Cruises, who average a dozen guests per trip; and Oh Boy Charters, who specialize in private charters, providing combination trips catered to your individual interests, such as Stingray City and Rum Point.

While Stingray Sandbar can become quite busy in general?especially on peak cruise ship days, our recommended operators take only small groups and do their very best to avoid any contact with other groups. You will be with a small group with at least one dedicated guide in the water with you at all times to ensure your safety and enhance your overall enjoyment of this remarkable experience.

The water at Stingray City Sandbar is so calm and clear it resembles a swimming pool. The guide's first words after most briefings are: "feel free to enter the pool".

Their guides do a terrific job of introducing their guests to the stingrays and pointing out all of the many interesting sea and reef life at both snorkel sites. They also offer personalized photo and/or video images of your adventures.

Of course the stingrays took an immediate liking to Celine.

As soon as you get in the water you are surrounded with friendly playful stingrays. The two people in the middle are the guides; they entice the rays with squid to keep them in your immediate area. One of them got a little too friendly with Celine; I think it mistook her finger for a little squid. rolllaugh

It's a good thing Stingrays don't have teeth!

The smaller stingrays are males.

This is at Barrier Reef looking out to sea; it's just inside the North Sound and on the other side of those rocks the water quickly plunges to about 25,000 feet! One of the people spotted a shark on the reef but our group missed it. Bash

There were two guides in the water the whole time at Sandbar, and here at barrier reef there was one guide for people that wanted to follow. Everyone else went off to explore on their own. This is important because many companies take very large crowds with only one guide. Soto?s takes very small groups and uses two guides. A little math will tell you which operation is going to provide the most safe, rewarding and enjoyable experience. Wink

The views from out there are amazing!

Native Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 1224 Location: Kansas

Man Joe,

These pictures just make me want to go back right away! You are making me want to book a trip.................but I have a weddign to pay for first!!!!! Great pictures though! kchick

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:29 pm Post subject:

That water is AWESOME! I'm so glad that the others are having a good time, but I'm also sick Barf

with jealousy! And I would have been even more sick when I was there if I had known that the dropoff was 25,000 feet!! :o For some reason, I was thinking it was only about 6,000 feet. I just love the stingrays! So, Celine got a stingray hickey?! I got one, too! I was so proud of it!!

Ginny

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:50 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the great photos of Stingray City. Beautiful water. Makes me want to get back soon!!! :-D Can't wait to here Celine's description of the day!!

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 6:00 am Post subject:

I wanna play with the stingrays, too!!! I miss that cool blue water! The pictures are GREAT. Keep 'em coming! It looks like everyone is having a wonderful time!

Jen

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 6:52 pm Post subject:

Can it get any better! What an awesome place, I can't wait for my turn

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject: photo's and soto's

Joe,

Thanks for the great pictures, I will surely try Soto's when we go see the stingrays!!! Very Happy

and yes keep the pictures coming.

Thanks

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:17 am Post subject:

I may be the only one that didn't know this, but after we saw a pregnant stingray on our trip, I came home and did some research...wanted to know how the babies are born, etc. I found out that when they are born, they come out with their wings rolled up like a burrito!

Maybe I'm turning in to Cliff Claven, but I thought that was a cool little piece of trivia! Very Happy

Jen

Native Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 1224 Location: Kansas

jlwest73 wrote:

I may be the only one that didn't know this, but after we saw a pregnant stingray on our trip, I came home and did some research...wanted to know how the babies are born, etc. I found out that when they are born, they come out with their wings rolled up like a burrito!

Maybe I'm turning in to Cliff Claven, but I thought that was a cool little piece of trivia! Very Happy

Jen

Jen'

That was a very interesting bit of information! Did it say how big or small that they are? What is the gestation period? Now you have me curious!!!kchick

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 6:15 pm Post subject:

We've done the Stingray City trip with Red Sail, Captain Marvins, Captain Dexter, etc and NONE of the other operations boats were as fast, with limited amount of people on board, nor offered the individual, personalized attention that Soto's did.

Other operations sometimes make a 4 hour trip of this, which is a long time when you're counting every precious minute in paradise. Capt.Marvin also took us to eat conch and rice at Kaibo for about an HOUR.......really nicer to just do the two stops, and go to one of the restaurants you prefer, and get the food you prefer, in my opinion.

Also...........after the trip we took with Red Sail last year, where we were taken out with about 25 other people, to a spot where 3 or 4 OTHER boats were also there and it was mass confusion, wasn't sure I wanted to do this again, but after going with the Soto's guys....DEFINITELY will!

The snorkel spot over the reef was also beautiful and we saw a ton of parrot fish and blue tang, the moray eel, etc.

Thanks Joe! Celine

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 6:25 pm Post subject:

That's VERY interesting Jen, thanks!

sorry Joe...I don't remember the other gentleman's name, but they both were so sweet....and patient. When that one stingray wanted me as her souvenir, I was ready to watch from the boat.....but it didn't last long......they are just too amazing to just look at when you can swim with them, hold and kiss them....which we ALL did!

According to Billy, the females are the more aggressive Rolling Eyes

and are the ones with the rougher skin......the males are smaller and softer......no comment Wink

Celine

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:23 pm Post subject: Stingray City

Joe,

Do you think (Soto's) can handle a 4year old and 6year old? I guess what I'm asking are they o.k. if we bring the kids?? Rolling Eyes

Thanks Chris & Misty Very Happy

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 7:18 am Post subject:

c&m.merhar - 4 and 6 year olds would be welcome at Soto's Cruises, and they will enjoy an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Wink

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 7:31 am Post subject:

Chris and Misty.....the water is only about 3 or perhaps 4 feet there also...and you'll NEVER get such personalized attention as the two guys there gave all of us! Don't forget your underwater camera.....guess who did, duh Rolling Eyes

Celine

Newbie Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 12

Stingray City and Reef Dive from Soto's was certainly a highlight of our trip to Cayman. You do not have to be a good swimmer, there are life jackets available if needed.

Just remember that when you are holding the squid (provided) to feed the sting rays that they will be all over you! It was indeed a memorable experience. Thanks Joe for the photography which we will treasure

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