Diving holidays: Stingray City, Grand Cayman
Each week at activityaway.co.uk we've been looking at the best diving spots in the world, giving you the low down and the facts so that you can organise your perfect diving holiday. This week we look at one of the most famous dive spots in the Caribbean - Stingray City.
Where is it?
Stingray City is located in the Cayman Islands, situated in the Caribbean Sea. You can find it in the shallow waters of the northwest corner of Grand Cayman’s North Sound. The Cayman Islands are made up of three tiny islands, which are actually part of the British Overseas Territory. The islands still retain a very British feel about them, but with tropical beaches, dramatic scenery and quiet charm.
What’s it all about?
Stingray City became famous in 1987 when Skin Diver Magazine discovered that there was a place where hundreds of stingrays would congregate and allow you to stroke them and eat out of your hand. Stingray City is know well known throughout the world as a top diving spot and has been featured on many wildlife TV documentaries.
What’s the diving like?
You can dive or snorkel to visit the rays in quite shallow water. The bottom is mostly made up of a giant sandbar so you will not see any coral reefs; here it’s all about the stingrays. The rays surround divers and swimmers and are usually harmless, only after the chunks of squid and other fish that your dive master will hand out to you.
Other fish that hang about hoping to get a bite include Cayman Piranhas, Yellow Tail Snappers and Sergeant Majors.
Dive equipment rental and dive companies
Because of the popularity of Stingray City many companies will try and take very large dive and snorkel groups to the site, this can make things overcrowded and overwhelming. Try to choose a company that will take you in a group of less than 20 people. Some good dive companies that offer small group and personalised tours to Stingray City and other top Cayman Island dive spots include; Neptune’s, Divetech and Eden Rock Diving Center.
Accommodation options
There are lots of good accommodation options within four-five miles of Stingray City. For a friendly and award winning resort with a dive focus, stay at Cobalt Coast Dive Resort whose dive facilities are run by Divetech. Or for something with a family focus and self catering options, try Sunshine Suites Resort . And if you want something upmarket and luxurious you could do no better than the 5-Star Ritz-Carlton.
Interesting fact
It is believed that this phenomenon first started many years ago when fishermen returning from a trip would stop in the calm and shallow water of the sound to clean their fish. The guts would be thrown overboard and stingray would gather to eat them. Soon the stingray began to associate the noise of the boat’s engines with food and would appear whenever they heard them.
Best suited to... Divers of all levels as well as snorkelers.
