Stingray City
Stingray City · Cayman Islands
A patch of white sand inside Grand Cayman's North Sound where dozens of southern stingrays patrol at around 12 feet. The rays began gathering here in the 1980s when fishermen cleaned their catch in the calm lagoon shallows — the population learned the sound of outboards and now reliably arrives at boat noise. The dive itself is technically trivial (no current, sand bottom, you kneel) but the encounter is the draw: three to four foot wingspans gliding inches over your head, often in groups of twenty or more. A separate sandbar nearby in 3–5 feet handles the snorkel crowds.
Conditions
Depth
1 to 5 m
Good for beginners
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
15 to 25 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
26 to 30°C
Rashguard or 3mm shorty
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
| Vis (m) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 20 |
| Current | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Southern stingray
Last confirmed May 15, 2026 · 130 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Grand Cayman Anole
Last confirmed Jun 25, 2026 · 247 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Cayman Curly-Tailed Lizard
Last confirmed Jul 4, 2026 · 243 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Red Junglefowl
Last confirmed Jul 6, 2026 · 125 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Greater Antillean Grackle
Last confirmed Jul 7, 2026 · 111 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Bar jack
Last confirmed Jun 25, 2026 · 62 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Nurse shark
Last confirmed Jun 22, 2026 · 30 records
Very likely
Most dives
Yellowtail snapper
Last confirmed Jan 3, 2026 · 8 records
Very likely
Most dives
Gear