Just back from cruise and we took a ships tour that included the sting rays. There were a few kids and they all did great.
One thing to remember is to do the "Sting Ray Shuffle" once in the water. Instead of walking you shuffle your feet on the sand. this way you can't step on a sting ray.
The youngest child was 4 and her dad held her the whole time. At first she was a bit scared but them she could not get enough of touching them. Always wanted the back rub and to kiis them.
My son was scared and jumped onto my dh's back to go back to the boat...he was about age 9...my older daughter was 13 and she did fine. This was back in 03.
My 5 year old, at the time 4, loved them...the water was too deep for her, so my dh held her the whole time.
I would have to say that it completely depends on the child...
We did the stingray thing a few years ago and I have a great picture of DH petting not one but two at the same time. The excursion we happen to be on advised the parents that they should keep their childeren close at hand and if the children started to get out of control - one of the men from our boat advised the parents to get the children out of the water immidiately.
But since their have been a couple of incidents - I would hesitate taking children into those waters - those stingrays are armed!!
Thanks for saying this! With my grandchildren I'd rather be Silly than Sorry!
The most publicized incidents are accidents and do not involve the type of stingray most commonly found at Stingray City - the Southern Stingray.
In the case of Steve Irwin it was a Bull Ray and in the more recent case in Florida it was an eagle ray. Both of these have an ability to "leap" when startled or when trying to escape being eaten.
Stingrays have NO offense capability - they cannot "aim" the stinger. It is purely for defense.
I understand that the leaping is also a purely defensive measure - that they are usually trying to escape a persuing predator. Sharks, for instance, prey on stingrays.
Since the waters where the stingray swim take place are crystal clear, I would think you would actually see any prediators that came into the area... I haven't seen any in the several times I've done this. That doesn't mean they couldn't be nearby.
Wonder if the boats, humans, and 'swarm' of rays may discourage predators from actually entering the area?
It has been reported that they can leap, but I have never seen and I have been around a lot of them - both at Stingray City and in the wild. If there were any predators in the area, I the stingrays would disappear post haste.
One time I heard of a Southern Stingray flying at Stingray sandbar. The water was quite rough and a ray was launched by one of the waves.
Since then, the government closes the area when the water approaches those conditions.
Most animals don't like a lot of noise and commotion so the boats and humans definitely would tend to repel any that weren't accustomed to free food.
What I don't like to see is animals persecuted by rumor and misunderstanding. After Steve Irwin was killed, a number of rays were slaughtered and mutilated in retaliation. I had seen Steve be careless on more than one occasion on his TV show and think on that occasion, it caught up with him.
I happened to be cruising (imagine that), when Steve Irwin was killed and we happened to stop in Grand Cayman the next day. There were long lines of people at the Shore Excursion desk asking the same question over and over - Am I going to die on this excursion?
Short answer is No. I think the odds are greater that you would be injured in a traffic accident getting to the boat than the odds of being injured by a stingray at the sandbar.
There is risk associated with every activity including staying on the ship.
I think zydecocruiser said it best and most accurate.
As for taking grandchildren, I would have no problems at all. But it really does depend on the child, not on the sting rays. Can they handle it? In other words, do they get scared when a dog approaches them at a friend's house? Then they may react the same way with the sting rays. Often children will react the same way their parents or grandparents do. If the adults act responsible and respect the creatures, then the kids tend to be more respectful. If the adults act like idiots, then the kids will probably take that as the way to react and problems may arise.
As was stated, sting rays are not aggressive. If normal precautions are taken, there are no problems and people of all ages can enjoy this truly unique and wonderful experience.
Hi, This is my first reply on this site....but reading above, I am leaving in 39days and will be playing with the rays. Thank goodness my baby is grown. I don't think I would have let her. I'm not scared at the moments but who knows when I am right there! Wish me luck!
well, on my 5th trip to visit the rays, I finally took my baby daughter, confident that she was finally mature enough to appreciate the experience.
At the first 'brush' of a ray, she screamed and literally jumped into our guide's arms.
I pretended not to know her.
My baby was, at the time, 38.
Go figure.
well, on my 5th trip to visit the rays, I finally took my baby daughter, confident that she was finally mature enough to appreciate the experience.
At the first 'brush' of a ray, she screamed and literally jumped into our guide's arms.
I pretended not to know her.
My baby was, at the time, 38.
Go figure.
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