Part of the reason I fell in love with the idea of visiting Grand Cayman was because of all the beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime natural attractions the island had to offer. The bioluminescent bay and the wildlife at Stingray City and Starfish point. In all of my research and at the top of my Cayman vacation bucket list was visiting these places. As I showed the kids more and more pictures of Grand Cayman we decided we couldn't wait to swim with the wild sting rays and see the giant red starfish near Starfish Point.
A short walk over to the dock at Rum Point beach, we chartered a catamaran for a tour of Stingray City with RedSail Sports.
Stingray City is a series of shallow sandbars found in the North Sound off Rum Point. Southern stingrays are found in abundance here and flock to the area to interact with visitors. It is said that the stingrays started gathering there many years ago when the fishermen would clear the reef and use the clam waters in the sound to clean their fish before coming into port. The stingrays were attracted to the fish guts and squid being tossed overboard and eventually associated the sounds of the boats with food.
This was the first time the kids had ever been on a catamaran. We of course had to take full advantage of the experience and sit on the nets up front. My Brown Eyed Girl loved watching the passing reefs under the crystal clear waters.
This water! I can not even begin to tell you just how turquoise this water was. It was right out of a dream. It was unbelievable! The most beautiful color I had ever seen in my life! Simply breathtaking!
It was so clear, that as we made our approach to anchor near the sandbar, we could see the sting rays start gathering from all around.
These enormous, graceful swimmers dotting the ocean floor below us.
An interesting thing happened once we stepped foot into the water... my excited children became terrified by the large ocean creatures surrounding us. Mr Blue Eyes began trembling. A natural born mermaid, My Brown Eyed Girl became anxious and irritated with the waves splashing her face. Both kids clung to us like toddlers refusing to be put down.
Handy Man and I looked at each other like, "Well, crap!"
I tried talking them into going over and touching one of the rays that a crew member was holding. Nope. Not interested. Are you kidding me?!?! We are here... NOW.... in this moment... and I am being told NO?? I began to feel irritated. Excitement deflated.
Handy Man has a way of diverting your attention and deescalating a situation. He began talking to the kids about the beautiful white sand below and how crystal clear everything was. He reached down deep and convinced the kids to start snorkeling with him, forgetting everything about the sting rays.
Both kids calmed a bit and began swimming with him away from the sting ray action.
Call me selfish, but I was holding a damn stingray!
Seeing that Handy Man was successfully occupying the kids, in a giant ocean all by himself, I went to find myself a stingray!
Meet my new friend Snowflake
Stingrays have very unique markings, characteristics and personalities. Over the years, many of the crew members have learned to identify the same rays by their unique markings and even battle scars.
They are enormous. But very gentile, curious and friendly. They are so silky smooth on their underside and feel like wet rubber on the top side. They are majestic and beautiful.
They say kissing a string ray will bring you luck.
Bring me a big salty smooch then!
Curiosity gets the cat...
Handy Man led the kids back over to where I was. I introduced them my new friend Snowflake.
Both kids reached out and touched Snowflake and I think they realized they weren't going to bite or stab them with their barbed tails.
I took a hold of my Brown Eyed Girl and we started to look around at the different rays. I started talking to her about my experience holding Snowflake and she agreed she wanted to hold one - if I would help hold her up out of the water a bit.
Meet Freckles.
Freckles was actually very pregnant and we could see her "belly" on her back full of babies.
All of the large rays that were surrounding us were females. The males are actually very small. They are also a little more erratic to hold therefore we only got to pet this guy.
After holding Freckles and learning about her babies, my Brown Eyed Girl was fully embracing Sting Ray City. She and Hand Man went off snorkeling again. This time in search of watching the rays gliding through the water.
I took Mr Blue Eyes in my arms.
He still refused to let go of my body. Clinging in a strange desperation. So we just waded around and watched other people from the boat interacting with the rays.
By this time, other tour boats were starting to arrive and I knew it wouldn't be long before it was time to go and Mr Blue Eyes still had not held a stingray. I held him in front of my face and said, "Hey bud, I know you are nervous to hold one of the stingrays and I don't want to make you hold one but I want you to think about something. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience - meaning we may never get the opportunity to swim with these gentle, giant animals again, especially hold them. I really don't want you to leave Grand Cayman and regret not doing this."
Through foggy snorkel lenses he asked me what regret meant. So I told him, "Well, it is when you decide not to do something and then days or weeks later you are sad that you didn't do that thing but it's too late. The experience is over. There are no second chances. I don't want you to go home and feel sad that you were the only one that didn't get to hold one."
We floated about. I could tell his little mind was working on over drive. He then asked me if I would hold him from behind, like I did with Sis so he could try. Of course!
Sweet Freckles was happy to assist us!
As he let his hands cradle Freckles in his arms, I felt the release of tension in his skinny little frame and he took a deep cleansing breath. We chatted about our new friend and I think he began to truly enjoy the moment. This mom was content!
Sure enough our crew called us back to the catamaran and our experience came to an end. While I wish we had more time, several other charter boats were now arriving and it was becoming very crowded and noisy.
Back on the catamaran and snuggled in our towels, Mr Blue Eyes whispered to me, "Mom, thank you. Thanks for helping me hold Freckles. You are right, I think I would have... what's that word again?"
"Regretted."
"Yeah! ...regretted not holding Freckles."
"You are welcome honey. I am so glad you were brave and took the chance."
Silence filled the air and then he grinned widely, "I can't wait to tell all my friends at school I held a sting ray! Do you think you can print off a picture of me holding Freckles so I can show my class?"
"Of course!"
Electrified by this amazing animal experience, the kids could not postpone Starfish Point another day. After a quick pit-stop for lunch were were on the hunt for giant starfish!
When you fist see these giant starfish in the water, they look fake. Planted by the locals as a tourist attraction. They are so huge and just dot the floor of the crystal clear waters.
But I assure you, they are very real!
Fascinating in their own right.
We spent about an hour trudging through the shallow waters spotting starfish. A treasure hunt of sorts. The kids loved it!
We found this one starfish in the process of eating a crab! It was so cool.
Handy Man... was a little less excited. Baking in the sun watching us frolic about.
Very patiently waiting to go back to the house.
We wrapped up another amazing day by sipping an evening beverage in silence while watching the kids drain every last minute of the day, as the sun faded on the horizon.
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