I doubt that there are any visitors to Grand Cayman in the Caribbean who are not aware of the world famous Stingray City Sandbar. Excursions take guests to interact with, feed and even kiss the Southern Stingrays here, and many of these visitors are families on vacation.
This begs the questions "is the sandbar safe for children"?
We would be foolish to take this concern lightly - these stingrays are after all armed with their barbs so that they can defend themselves against predators. They are not "trained", and interact with visitors of their own free will. Some may disappear for months and then suddenly (and to our great delight) make a reappearance for daily kisses. Some never return (and we have our suspicions about them), but that is another story entirely.
Read up on the history of Stingray City, and you will learn that our stingrays have had over 30 years of interaction with human beings and do not automatically see us as either predator or prey. A reputable tour operator will know how to treat the stingrays, and should be in the water with you to show you how to do the same. Respect is key - no "cowboy" antics should be tolerated, from anyone, ever. That is asking for trouble.
So, we would advise that this attraction is no more dangerous for children than it is for adults, and we have hosted countless children from 3 months of age and up. In fact, our experience is that the kids have an enormous natural respect and awe for these beautiful sea creatures and become mesmerised when holding the stingrays. Of course, every child is different and each one has a different taste for adventure, so while we encourage all of them to partake in this experience, we never force it upon anyone, no matter the age.
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| A child holds a stingray at Stingray City in Grand Cayman |
Ultimately, it is the decision of the parents whether to take their children or not. Us? We love sharing it and feel it can only be a good experience and can't wait to do it again with the next young adventurer!
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| This youngster snorkels with Barbara |
