Stingray City?

[ccarter]

Is the Stingray City dive worth it? Going to the Caymans in November and planning all shore dives except for maybe Stingray City..

Thoughts?

[diversteve]

Originally Posted by ccarter

Is the Stingray City dive worth it? Going to the Caymans in November and planning all shore dives except for maybe Stingray City..
Thoughts?

You'll miss a lot of really good dives by shorediving only. Some of the best sites off Cayman are only boat accessible. Big Tunnels, Orange Canyon, Trinity Caves...the Aquarium is a great 2nd dive. Must do shoredive is Turtle Reef on the north side.

And the North Wall is a healthy swim out in most places. One option is to go to Cobalt Coast and ask Divetech to tow you out, at least then drift back in. And don't miss hanging out over the dropoff, it's one of the highlights. It's just so eeriily blue and you may see big pelagics feeding deep off the wall since the viz is usually astounding.

SRC is a riot as long as there's squid. You get mobbed by 3-4' Stingrays who've a number of tricks to make you let go of the piece clutched tightly in the palm of your hand. And they really get up close and personal. Feel kind of like mushrooms with muscles...

It's about a 45min dive in 15' of water, the viz gets bad after the first few encounters and once they're gone - as soon as your squid is gone they go streaking for the next group of divers - all that's left is a couple of small coral patches and the resident Moray Eel. He's pretty tame, I was able to slowly get within about 2' of him.

Overall it's one of those dives I'll do once. I could've been happy calling the dive after 1/2hr. Book a later afternoon trip, the cruisers will be gone by then. They don't go to the divesite but to the Sandbar nearby.

[Chocoholic]

good to know. On a side note, is Morrit's grand a good place to dive from?

[Damselfish]

I think Stingray City is worth experiencing once. I agree that while there is some good shore diving on GC, you will be missing the best stuff. IMO it's a place to boat dive and top it off with some shore dives, not the other way around.

[ianr33]

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

good to know. On a side note, is Morrit's grand a good place to dive from?

Shore diving or Boat?

The on site Dive OP ,Toucan Divers are OK but I would choose Ocean Frontiers if I was in that area.

Morrits is not a good place to shore dive. Shallow sand flats for a long way and a fringing reef that is dangerously shallow.

[jo8243]

Originally Posted by Damselfish

I agree that while there is some good shore diving on GC, you will be missing the best stuff. IMO it's a place to boat dive and top it off with some shore dives, not the other way around.

Out of curiousity, which shore dives have you done on Grand Cayman?

[comet24]

I would do it. It's one of those dives you just have to do if you get the chance. If not you will wish you had.

[WestTnDiver]

In my opinion, the best diving on the island is on the east end. Due to a fringing reef with only a few cuts, the diving is done by boat. There are some good dives on the north side but they can be really long swims out. The few dives I've done as shore dives weren't very much fun after so many great boat dives on the other end of island.
We've done sting ray city a few times as part of an all day boat trip from the east end. The boat dives on the north end on the way, were worth doing SRC again. Otherwise once is anough.

[Defman]

Stingray City is a nice dive, however....

Be aware that there are also fish that are very interested in the squid in your hand, and they don't have a problem biting off a finger to get it!! I fed a stingray once, once... then passed the squid box to someone else to tend to my bleeding finger.....

[ianr33]

I *think* that only the divemasters get to handle the squid these days.

Towards the end of the dive the guide typically goes over to some coral heads that are home to several morays . One of these recently took a chunk out someone,hence the change in the rules.
http://www.caymannetnews.com/cgi-scr...073/007398.htm

I have mixed feelings on Stingray City. I had fun when I did it (twice) but would not do it again.

Hand feeding wild animals is always going to have the potential for injuries.