Sting Rays

[Milli]

   Ok--I admit it...... I am a Wuss!!  I have had my eye on two resorts in Mexico  (Bahia Talum and Akumal Beach Resort) for the past year and I am seeing a few deals for Oct/Nov.  Lately I have been reading about Sting Rays and I see they are very common in the Gulf of Mexico.  Although I would love to SEE a ray I really don't want to step on one and it seems the areas they like to bask in are the areas that I love to wade in.  Does anyone know if they are THAT common on the beaches of the Riviera Maya or have the numbers of people playing in the water sent them to more tranquil waters?  Are they more common at certain times of the year?

[Gambitt]

I'm no expert, but Johnny C and I, did see several rays, while we were diving in Cozumel.

That was in May, and it was in deep water (40 ft. +) but they were in the area.

[SharonAnn]

I thought they were more prevalent on the west coast of Mexico.  I had read that the beaches get red flagged alot (Cabo area) because of them.  I hadn't heard of them every being an issue on the east side.  I will however do some research into it because the Mayan is on the radar for the future.

[JohnnyCastaway]

we did see a huge one near the shore in coz last september, it was pretty hard to miss.  If there's a lot of people on the beach and in the water, they'd most likely get scared away with all the commotion.  Not sure what to suggest on this one, other than checking out the reviews of the resorts your looking at and see if anyone mentions them.  They have a pretty distinctive appearance when they're buried in the sand, so keep a watchfull eye on the bottom with that pristine clear water may keep you safe.  I haven't heard of a lot of people being stung due to stepping on them, however I know that some have.

As Gambitt said, most of the ones that I've seen are down in 40+ feet of water, so no danger to the beach.

[FredTracie]

Milli
 if Tracie can put a stingray in her arms, I'm absolutely sure the odds of you stepping on one would be slim and none!
Anyway when we were swimming with the Rays they were everywhere as I was stepping in the water and our guide said don't worry you will not step on one as they know you're coming!! It was really strange as they swam between your legs and rubbed against you...Awesome! Always watch where you are going, but certainly wouldn't be overly concerned! We also saw Rays other times in San Andres and they were staying to themselves!

                                   F&T

[mojitomiss_cuba]

I'd love to hold one of those wonderful creatures too!
But like you Milli, I sure don't want to step on one 
A little trick I read about was as you are walking into the water, shuffle your feet to stir up the sand. If there are any rays buried in the sand the stirring and shuffling is supposed to alert them early enough to your presence and they'll swim away.
I've never heard of them being that prevalent that close to the shore in the Mayan area. Panama and the Pacific Coast of Mexico, yes, but not the Mayan.
There's a resort in panama (grand playo blanco I think) that is quite known for it's Rays. In fact like mentioned above, their red flag days signify a large presence of rays rather than bad weather. Would like to check this place out on day, it's been on my radar for a long time :)

[Milli]

Not sure what to suggest on this one, other than checking out the reviews of the resorts your looking at and see if anyone mentions them. 

  Thanks all for your input.

Actually John it was the latest review of Akumal Beach Resort   on TA that sent me on this information search!  I don't remember reading about sting rays before except as an attraction for tourists to swim with or see.

[bmnichol]

Hi Milli, I've been to the ABR twice now. Both times I have seen a couple of rays close to shore. Don't worry about them, they do move out of the way. If there is a ray close to shore you will hear about it. People love to look at them and when one is spotted close to shore the word passes quickly. I've seen them while snorkeling in less than six feet of water. They are not that prevalent, I considered myself lucky to see two one day.

In the area of Caymen Island there is a place they call Stingray City. The stingrays are in water knee deep. They don't seem that skittish around people.

I would not let it worry you at all. If you are nervous that you might walk on one, shuffle your feet or walk behind someone else. Send a scout in front of you. 

We loved the ABR. I've been looking at prices for this fall too. It doesn't look good for us. Maybe next spring. The rebuilding is coming along nicely. They opened the new bar a week or so ago and it won't be long before they are ready to re-open the buffet.

OK, forget some of what I said above about stingrays. I was just reading another forum and found this info. It is regarding stingrays in Akumal Bay and a few other areas. Some good advice.

http://forums.locogringo.com/forums/tm.asp?m=899314

[Milli]

If you are nervous that you might walk on one, shuffle your feet or walk behind someone else. Send a scout in front of you. 

   Good idea but I don't know if DH will appreciate it! LOL

Brenda:  Thanks for that  link.....lots of excellent tips and personal experiences!

[Bulldog]

How to Avoid a Stingray Attack


Step1
Pay attention to posted warning signs, especially if you're the first one in the water.

Step2
Do the shuffle. Because stingrays settle into the sand, they're difficult to spot even in clear water. Instead of stepping, shuffle your feet forward to avoid stepping directly on a stingray and provoking a reaction.

Step3
Keep from swimming near jetties and piers where stingrays gather. Although stingrays aren't aggressive, you may accidentally corner one and provoke a strike from the instinctive tail flip.

Step4
Stay clear from the ocean floor when snorkeling or diving. If a stingray feels threatened, the tail will strike because this is the ray's natural protection. Stingrays may allow swimmers to approach closely but then react without warning.

Step5
Avoid swimming over a moving stingray. While snorkeling at Batt Reef off Queensland, Australia, Steve Irwin, the wildlife expert, swam over a large stingray and was fatally stung in the chest. Although death by stingray attack is rare, even a small barb in the foot is painful.

Step6
Wear protective waders when fishing. However, most water shoes provide minimal protection because a stingray's tail barb can easily pierce the water shoe's mesh fabric.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2155793_avoid-stingray-attack.html

[Tuss]

do the "sting-ray shuffle"  if you stepped directly on one they might sting.  If you walk by shuffling your feet you won't step on one, but instead will kick it from the side and it will simply swim away.  they are beautiful and i wouldn't avoid a resort because of reports of seeing stingrays.

[Milli]

 I resurrected this post after coming to terms with these creatures that we share the waters with!  Today I recieved an email about them that I was truly able to enjoy:



 

Mass Migration of Sting Rays

   
     

Looking like giant leaves floating in the sea, thousands of Golden Rays are seen here gathering off the coast of Mexico. The spectacular scene was captured as the magnificent creatures made one of their biannual mass migrations to more agreeable waters.

Gliding silently beneath the waves, they turned vast areas of blue water to gold off the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. Sandra Critelli, an amateur photographer, stumbled  across the phenomenon while looking for whale sharks.
She said: 'It was an unreal image, very difficult to describe. The surface of the water was covered by warm and different shades of gold and looked like a bed of autumn leaves gently moved by the wind.

'It's hard to say exactly how many there were, but in the range of a few thousand'

'We were surrounded by them without seeing the edge of the school and we could see many under the water surface too. I feel very fortunate I was there in the right place at the right time to experience nature at its best'
Measuring up to 7ft (2.1 meters) from wing-tip to wing-tip, Golden rays are also more prosaically known as cow nose rays.

 

They have long, pointed pectoral fins that separate into two lobes in front of their high-domed heads and give them a cow-like appearance. Despite having poisonous stingers, they are known to be shy and non-threatening when in large schools.
The population in the Gulf of Mexico migrates, in schools of as many as 10,000, clockwise from western Florida to the Yucatan.

 



 









 
 


 




 



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[bmnichol]

I got that email the other day too. Amazing, I would love to see that in person.

[flopnfly]

Wow, that would be amazing to see!!!

I was thrilled at seeing a few dolphins and a couple of pilot whales.

[JohnnyCastaway]

Incredible, what a site to see!