StingGray swim.

L

lisalovlee33

Guest
Hi, it's me again!
We'll be on a cruise with Belize, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Costa Maya (Majahual)
So far, I've decided to visit the ruins in Costa Maya (Cchoben, I think that's what it's called)
Cozumel - probably rent a car/jeep and wander around the island (it is an island right? :) )

Would definitely want to do the sting gray swim. Is it like swimming with the dolphins? Both of us can't swim, and when we did the dolphin in Puerto Vallarhta last year, we had vest floaters, so we didn't drown!

Is the sting gray swim generally in deep water? And if it does, do they provide life vests?

Read so much about snorkelling. Do they provide vests when you do that sorta thing? We would really love to try it but don't want to drown either! :))

Please respond.. thank you lots.

p.s. Can we do the sting gray swim on our own (without booking through Princess). If so, how? Thankssss
 
N

Natalia

Guest
For the stingrays, take a tour with Captain Marvins... they are awesome! NativeWay is said to be good too, but I can not personally vouch for them. They take you out to a sand bar where the stingrays are. The water is waist to chest deep, depending on your height. The will provide you snorkel gear as well as vests. They have a few tour options, so check out what they offer. If you choose a tour with some snorkeling stops, this will be in 8 - 12 foot of water. Very reputable company, we had a great time with them! http://www.captainmarvins.com/ click on "snorkel trips" on the left side.

As for Cozumel, yes it is an island 12 miles off the mainland of the Yukatan Peninsula. The Jeeps are really a fun way to see the island, gives you a lot of freedom especially if you have a long day in port. Just keep an eye on your time. Make sure you are on the correct time, some ships change to match local time, some do not.... they will tell you.
 
E

Elly

Guest
We used Nativeway to see the sting rays and they were also great. Our tour included two snorkel stops, and we asked to be dropped off at 7 mile beach afterwards. Everything was great!
 
S

sailboat

Guest
There is no actual "swimming" on the StingRay swim. You mostly stand in shallow water -- about knee deep for my husband and about waist deep for me and listen to everybody shrieking as the shadowy stingrays swarm toward you! But they are mainly interested in the snacks they know they'll get, so while it is a thrilling sight, it is not a dangerous tour.

In addition to fins, a mask, and snorkel, most snorkeling tours will offer you some sort of floatation device (many tours require you to wear one, no matter how good a swimmer you may be). Floatation devices take the form of the bulky orange life vests, which you can wear like a vest or belt around your waist, a self-inflating vest, foam kick boards, or even foam noodles (which I like best). You should identify yourself to the crew as a novice and/or poor swimmer and the good tour companies will assign a crew member to look after you or give you pointers on how to stay safe in the water. If you are a poor swimmer, be aware that even with the flotation device it can be challenging to get back on board when your arms and legs are tired. So pace yourself and reboard before you get too tired. That said, I highly recommend snorkeling. The underwater world is fascinating and beautiful and you will enjoy this fairly easy way of experiencing it.
 
L

lisalovlee33

Guest
Thanks for the tip. Actually, I almost drown (not possible with a vest, but felt I was out of breath) one time in Puerto Vallarhta. We went snorkelling in the ocean area. I was out far from the boat. As I also have sinus problem, it makes it extra difficult to breath. Suddenly I felt water going into my mouth and as I already have trouble breathing, it made it extra hard, panic attack set in.. was the worst feeling ever...Especially in the ocean where it's already diff. to breath to begin with.
 
N

nimbex

Guest
here's a picture of swimming with the sting rays. the water was unusually rough that day.


<img src=http://www.cruise-addicts.com/photogallery/main.php/download/25173-2/14.jpg>
 
S

shortmama1

Guest
nimbex, it looks like you are with a nice size group. Which tour group did you go with?
 
N

nimbex

Guest
this was ACTUALLY the more expensive..... SHIP tour. There were few people on our excursion because we chose the first am time.... when everyone is just eating breakfast, and the ray'sare still very hungry!
 
L

lisalovlee33

Guest
Just got back from the cruise. :( So sad now. Will be writing up my review for all of you who are interested, the stingray tour we took was about 34$ with Captain Marvin. It was an excellent tour and there was only 8 ppl in our group.. So fun... :(
 
L

lovbyts

Guest
Just a FYI you dont ever want to do a Stingray swim. ManaRays are fine and will not hurt you. A lot of people confuse the 2 and even on the trips they call them StingRays but I'm sure they are ManaRays. I did a couple swims at Discovery Cove. Great place if you ever get the chance to go there. Very clean place and the fish look happy. :)
 
D

day-day

Guest
lovbyts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just a FYI you dont ever want to do a Stingray
> swim. ManaRays are fine and will not hurt you. A
> lot of people confuse the 2 and even on the trips
> they call them StingRays but I'm sure they are
> ManaRays. I did a couple swims at Discovery Cove.
> Great place if you ever get the chance to go
> there. Very clean place and the fish look happy.
The rays at the Cayman Islands are Southern Stingrays. You can find some information at
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/SouthernStingray/SouthernStingray.html. These
look much different from the stingrays I'm used to seeing off the coast of the Florida panhandle; they are larger and darker in color. I've seen the barb on the stingrays during our stingray tour at the Grand Caymans; the guides warn guests not to step on the stingrays and to slide their feet when walking near them.
 
Top