Stingray City is one of the Cayman Island’s most visited natural attractions and is certainly a very memorable highlight of a visit to the Grand Cayman. In 1951 Capt. Marvin Ebanks borrowed a sailboat and started making all day trips out to this part of the reef – taking tourists to visit the stingrays. He pioneered these trips (today a number of outfitters offers trips to Stingray City. While the Captain passed on at the ripe old age of 98 in 2014, his company lives on and still makes these trips daily (weather permitting). Only officially closed on Christmas Day (still family owned). Hotel pickups avaialble at various properties along the seven-mile beach (where there office is also located). They offer a number of trip options and or customized private experiences.
Fortunately Stingray City is located in shallow waters on the reef and one can easily stand up. Guides will provide cut up fish/squid and give you instructions on how to feed these beautiful creatures. Their bite is strong, more like a powerful suction cup and if you aren’t careful you might receive a quick bite on the arm or leg. As the food makes an appearance so do the stingrays – many of them and in their attempts to feed, often they will splash up on you, and at times cover you as they swim by. You can hold one of the stingrays as well – be sure to bring a waterproof camera – in the excitement of the action, great photographs will materialize quickly!
For more information, visit: www.captainmarvins.com
Is Stingray City worth going to? I am only in Cayman with my husband for a couple of days next month. I was thinking of going with this company https://www.stingraycitygrandcaymans.com/ since they do smaller groups. Was captain Marvin’s good? Was it crowded when you went? Thanks