Postcards....

PLAYING WITH RAYS

At Stingray City, Grand Cayman's most famous attraction, tourists snorkel,
dive and wade in shallow water wtih dozens of wild southern stingrays

The flat, sleek sea creatures -- some nearly 6 feet in diameter -- brush their velvety bellies against their human visitors' hands and feet. That's how the animals beg for food. Squid (their favorite) is available if you want to try some hand-feeding. There's no need to worry about being bitten; the rays have no teeth. They use a powerful sucking motion to draw their meals into their mouths.

Stingray City consists of several sandbars ranging from about 3 to 12 feet in depth. Local fisherman discovered  the site in the mid-1980s, when they crossed a barrier reef searching for calm, shallow waters in which to clean their fish. Soon a collection of stingrays -- scavengers by nature -- started hanging around the boats and devouring whatever leftovers they could get their suckers on. Adventurous dive shop operators noticed and got in the water to feed the rays. Before long, the animals had become tame -- almost cuddly, in fact.

Stingray City is fun for scuba fanatics (it's called the world‘s best 12-Foot dive) and underwater amateurs.  After little or no instruction, snorkeling comes quite naturally to people who are comfortable in water. Professional dive operators are available in the area to provide quick lessons. Stingray City is a favorite stop on many Caribbean cruises. Contact your Travel Leaders expert to find out how you can catch a close-up view of Grand Cayman's famous rays.