5 Fun Facts About Grand Cayman’s Stingrays

If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming with stingrays, Grand Cayman Stingray City is the place to do it. These gentle, friendly rays have become world-famous for gliding right up to people in crystal-clear water: a one-of-a-kind experience that shows how amazing human–wildlife connections can be. Let’s dive into five fun facts that explain why Cayman’s stingrays are so special, so friendly, and so unforgettable.

1. They’re 100% Wild — But They Choose to Visit You

The stingrays at Grand Cayman Stingray City are completely wild, yet they’ve chosen to interact with humans for generations. Decades ago, fishermen began cleaning their catch on a shallow sandbar in the North Sound, and stingrays learned to come for scraps. Over time, they grew used to people — and today around 160 southern stingrays regularly return to the same spot, swimming freely in the open ocean.

Female southern stingrays are the big ones — reaching up to 5–6 feet across and weighing over 100 pounds — while males are about half that size. They’re built for grace, not aggression, and can live for 20–25 years in the wild. Every encounter at Stingray City is with a truly wild animal that enjoys the gentle attention and food you bring.

2. Cayman’s Stingrays Are Naturally Gentle and Incredibly Curious

A common question is: Are stingrays dangerous? Not in Grand Cayman! These southern stingrays are calm, curious, and love to glide among visitors. Their tail barb is a natural defense they rarely use — at Stingray City, they’re relaxed, not threatened.

They’re also fascinating feeders. Stingrays use tiny electro-sensors to detect prey buried in the sand — small fish, clams, shrimp, and crabs. Once they locate a meal, they flap their wings to stir up the sand and use a vacuum-like mouth on their underside to suck it up. Instead of sharp teeth, they have flat dental plates that crush shells before swallowing. Watching them feed is pure Cayman nature in action — peaceful, efficient, and strangely beautiful.

They’ll sometimes brush your legs or swirl past your feet as if checking whether you’ve got snacks to share. Swimming with stingrays here feels less like observing wildlife and more like meeting an old friend who lives underwater.

3. Stingrays Are Born Ready to Swim (and Learn Fast!)

Southern stingrays are viviparous — meaning they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. Each female typically has 2–6 pups once a year, each about 8–10 inches wide at birth.

Within minutes, the pups are swimming and feeding on their own in the safety of the shallow lagoon. It’s one of nature’s most amazing sights — miniature stingrays gliding just like the adults, fully formed and independent from day one. Most of the rays you’ll meet at Stingray City were born within just a few miles of the sandbar and nearby reef.

They grow quickly, learning the gentle rhythms of the North Sound and following the same sandy routes as their mothers. You could say they’re born with island instincts — calm, curious, and perfectly at home in Cayman’s turquoise waters.

4. Stingrays Recognize People — Especially the Ones Who Feed Them

Visitors are often amazed by how Grand Cayman stingrays seem to know their human friends. They respond to the sound of approaching boats, especially those they associate with a good meal. Feeding stingrays is easy and safe: hold a small piece of squid flat in your palm, or in your fist with your thumb tucked in. The stingray will glide over and gently vacuum the squid up.

That soft suction comes from the same mouth they use on the seafloor. Beneath those smiling faces are powerful lips and rows of flat grinding plates, perfect for crushing shellfish but completely harmless to people. It’s ticklish, harmless, and surprisingly intimate. Our guests say it’s like being kissed by the ocean!

This feeding tradition, started by fishermen decades ago, has built generations of trust between people and rays. It’s also an incredible educational experience that helps visitors of all ages understand how intelligent and responsive these animals are.

5. You Can Safely Hold and “Kiss” a Stingray for 7 Years of Good Luck

It’s said that kissing a stingray brings seven years of good luck, and while we can’t promise the math, we can promise the magic. With guidance from our Crazy Crab crew, you can hold and safely interact with stingrays in waist-deep water. Their smooth, silky texture surprises everyone, and their calm behavior makes for beautiful photos and even better memories.

Respect is key — always support the stingray’s body underwater and never lift it too high. These rays are used to gentle handling, and some even seem to pose for pictures. Once you feel the soft flutter of their wings as they swim away, you’ll understand why they’ve captured the hearts of so many visitors.

If you’d like to know more about interacting with stingrays, check out our detailed guide: Top Questions About Stingray City.

How to See the Stingrays for Yourself

The best way to experience Grand Cayman Stingray City is on a private boat charter, where you can visit during quieter times, learn from local guides, and connect with the rays without crowds.

At Crazy Crab Private Boat Charters, we take you to Stingray City your way — whether you’d like to snorkel alongside the rays, feed them, or watch from the boat. Our experienced Caymanian guides share stories, show you how to interact safely, and help capture those perfect “kiss” photos.

We often pair Stingray City with other must-sees like Starfish Point, Guided Snorkeling, or a sunset stop at Bioluminescent Bay, all perfectly tailored for the ultimate day on Cayman’s North Sound.

Ready to meet Cayman’s friendliest locals?

Book your Crazy Crab private charter today and make memories that sparkle like the sea.

Stingray City FAQs

Are Grand Cayman stingrays safe to swim with?

Yes, absolutely! The stingrays at Grand Cayman Stingray City are completely wild but very accustomed to people. They’ve been interacting with visitors for decades and are calm, curious, and gentle by nature. Their tail barb is purely for defense and they rarely use it. When you follow your guide’s instructions and move slowly, the rays glide peacefully around you, making it one of the safest and most unforgettable wildlife experiences in the Caribbean.

What do stingrays eat?

Southern stingrays naturally feed on clams, shrimp, crabs, and small fish buried in the sand. They locate food using tiny electro-sensors, then flap their wings to stir up the sand and vacuum prey into their mouths. Instead of sharp teeth, they have flat dental plates that crush shells — perfect for their diet and completely harmless to people. At Stingray City, the rays have developed a taste for treats from their human visitors too! They’re hand-fed mainly squid and small fish called sprats, a snack shared between two species who’ve learned to trust each other.

How long do Grand Cayman stingrays live?

These graceful animals can live for 20–25 years, and many of the rays at Stingray City have been visiting and hand-fed for their entire life. Female southern stingrays can reach 5–6 feet across and weigh more than 100 pounds, while males are smaller at about half that size.

How are baby stingrays born?

Southern stingrays give birth to live young, usually 2–6 pups each year. The pups are born fully formed, about 8 to 10 inches wide, and can swim and feed immediately. Many are born right here in Cayman’s calm, sandy shallows, continuing a generations-old connection between the rays and Stingray City sandbar.

How do you safely hold a stingray?

The stingrays at Stingray City are used to being held and hand-fed. Do not attempt to hold a stingray other than at Stingray City and without the assistance of an experienced guide. And never lift a stingray out of the water. Hold a stingray with its nose to your chest and tail away from you, supporting its body underwater with both hands. At Crazy Crab, our guides show you exactly how to interact safely so both you and the stingray stay relaxed and comfortable.