STORYSTAR
Logo
  • Home
    • Short Story STARS of the Week
    • Short Story Writer of the Month
    • Read short stories by theme
    • Read short stories by subject
    • Read classic short stories
    • Read Novels
    • Brightest Stars Anthology
    • StoryStar Premium Membership
  • Publish Story
  • Read Stories
    • READ SHORT True Life STORIES
    • READ SHORT Fiction STORIES
    • READ SHORT STORIES FOR Kids
    • READ SHORT STORIES FOR Teens
    • READ SHORT STORIES FOR Adults
    • Read short stories by theme
      • Read Short Love stories / Romance Stories
      • Read Short Family & Friends Stories
      • Read Short Survival / Success Stories
      • Read Short Mystery Stories
      • Read Short Inspirational Stories
      • Read Short Drama / Human Interest Stories
      • Read Short Action & Adventure Stories
      • Read Short Science Fiction Stories
      • Read Short Fairy Tales & Fantasy Stories
      • Read Short Story Classics Stories
      • Read Short Horror Stories
    • Read short stories by subject
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Aging / Maturity
      • Art / Music / Theater / Dance
      • Biography / Autobiography
      • Character Based
      • Childhood / Youth
      • Comedy / Humor
      • Coming of Age / Initiation
      • Community / Home
      • Courage / Heroism
      • Creatures & Monsters
      • Crime
      • Culture / Heritage / Lifestyles
      • Current Events
      • Death / Heartbreak / Loss
      • Drama
      • Education / Instruction
      • Ethics / Morality
      • Fairy Tale / Folk Tale
      • Faith / Hope
      • Family
      • Fantasy / Dreams / Wishes
      • Fate / Luck / Serendipity
      • Flash / Mini / Very Short
      • Friends / Friendship
      • General Interest
      • Ghost Stories / Paranormal
      • History / Historical
      • Horror / Scary
      • Ideas / Discovery / Opinions
      • Inspirational / Uplifting
      • Life Changing Decisions/Events
      • Life Experience
      • Loneliness / Solitude
      • Love / Romance / Dating
      • Memorial / Tribute
      • Memory / Reminiscence
      • Miracles / Wonders
      • Mystery
      • Nature & Wildlife
      • Novels
      • Other / Not Listed
      • Pain / Problems / Adversity
      • Personal Growth / Achievement
      • Pets / Animal Friends
      • Philosophy/Religion/Spirituality
      • Poems & Songs
      • Politics / Power / Abuse of Power
      • Recreation / Sports / Travel
      • Relationships
      • Revenge / Poetic Justice / Karma
      • Science / Science Fiction
      • Seasonal / Holidays
      • Serial / Series
      • Service / Giving Back
      • Survival / Healing / Renewal
      • Time: PAST/Present/FUTURE
      • War & Peace
      • Western / Wild West
  • Contests
  • Blog
  • Comments Feed
  • LOGIN / SIGN UP
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
LOGIN / SIGN UP

Congratulations !


You have been awarded points.
Thank you for !

Storystar Premium Members Don't See Any Advertising. Learn More.

Advertisement

  • Story Listed as: True Life For Adults
  • Theme: Action & Adventure
  • Subject: Recreation / Sports / Travel
  • Published: 01/11/2022

Stingray City

By Gordon England
Born 1954, M, from Viera/FL, United States
View Author Profile
Read More Stories by This Author
Stingray City

“I can’t wait to reach Grand Cayman tomorrow,” I said as my wife, Annie, and I sipped on rum drinks at a tiki bar overlooking the bay in Falmouth, Jamaica.
“Is that where we are going diving?” Annie asked.
“Oh yeah. We’ll go to Stingray City and dive with the rays.”
“What do you mean we? I’ll watch you swim with rays all you want. I’ve seen pictures of those stingrays bigger than me. Are you crazy? Their three-foot stinger would kill me for sure.”
“Have faith. The natives wouldn’t take us somewhere dangerous. That would be bad for business.”

We were on a cruise ship traveling a Western Caribbean route. On the previous day, we had explored a waterfall in Ocho Rios in Jamaica. Fortunately, we completed a fifty-foot-high climb over a gradual slope through small rapids without falling. Fifteen of us from the cruise boat climbed the slippery falls by holding on to each other and shuffling in a human chain. Going down was much easier than climbing up.
“Another round of drinks,” I told our bartender.
“Good move,” said Annie. “We have another hour before we go back to the ship.”
After replenishing our drinks, I said, “Let’s move to that hammock under the palm tree.”
“Good idea.”
We swung in the hammock until boarding time, ending another perfect day on a tropical island.

The following day, we left our ship early on a tender boat, sailing from our ship anchored offshore near George Town Harbour. I wanted plenty of time to explore Grand Cayman and snorkel in its warm water. I took my own dive gear rather than renting worn masks and snorkels used by who knows yesterday. Leaving the tender, I was impressed with a modernized terminal area receiving passengers from several cruise ships. Much of low-lying George Town had been severely damaged during Hurricane Emily in 2005. Recent reconstruction had created the most modernized buildings and infrastructure of any port I had seen in the Western Caribbean. One of the first tourist attractions I noticed on the seaside was a new Margaritaville Restaurant on stilts, elevating it to second-story height for storm protection. I looked forward to visiting Jimmy Buffet’s restaurant when we returned.

I hired a guide who led a group of us to his dive boat floating on crystal clear water. The first mate cast lines away from our vessel. Our deeply tanned and grizzled captain with a British accent circled the island, then took us across a shallow, sandy bay. Once again, I was traveling across tropical waters, inhaling warm salt air blowing through my hair.
“That must be Stingray City,” I said to Annie as I pointed toward a dozen boats assembled in a small area several miles from shore.
“Yes,” said the mate. “That be Stingray City.”
Our captain anchored on a four-foot-deep sandbar, in between two other boats anchored as part of a large circle where many tourists filled the water to look at giant stingrays. Large dark shapes swam between many tourists wading in gin clear water. Those had to be stingrays, almost as large as manta rays.
Annie stayed back when our passengers lined up to step off the dive platform.
“Are you coming?” I asked her.
“You go first. I’ll watch from here.”
“Okay. I’ll give you a report.”

I jumped into the sea and waded through chest-deep water to a group of people where a guide gave a lecture.
“Welcome to Stingray City, home to our pets year-round. No be afraid of them. They be friendly this time of year. Just move slowly, and they come to you for food. Don’t feed them; we do dat a couple of times a day. Gently pet da rays. Some of you be worried about da stingers. This ray in front of us is old female. She have no stinger, so you be safe. She likes to be petted and held. I stay here to watch while you have fun.”

I watched people pet the older, six-foot diameter ray with ease. Then I stepped forward for my turn. With minor hesitation, I reached toward the inch-thick creature and gently grabbed her silky skin just below the waterline. My minor concern disappeared when she did not react. When she raised part of her body above water, I turned around to let her rest a sizeable pectoral fin on my back. Oh, that was cool. If I wasn’t there, I would not believe a ray would be so friendly. Now I felt adventurous, so I turned around and slowly kissed the ray’s body. A large grin stayed on my face for several minutes after I stopped.

I watched dozens of smaller, black rays slowly swim among tourists. A few rays came within petting distance of me but most kept their distance. No wonder this was called Stingray City.
I returned to our boat and talked to Annie.
“Do you see how friendly these stingrays are?” I asked.
“Yes, but they’re so big.”
“They are as calm as our cat. Did you see me kiss one?”
“Yes,” Annie said with hesitation.
“Come on in. They won’t hurt you.”
“Well.”
“I’ll be right beside you. Nothing’s going to happen.”
“Okay. Just one time. You’ll be there, right?”
“Yes, I’ll be with you all the way,” I promised.
I helped Annie descend the dive ladder into clear, warm water.
I held her hand and said, “Now walk over here,” as I led her to the female ray.
“Oh Gordon. Are you sure?”
“It’s okay. Now stand still and wait for her to come to you.”
Annie squeezed my hand tight.
“Here she is. Reach out and touch her.”
Annie bravely made a quick pet, then turned away.
“I want to go back to our boat.”
I laughed and said, “You did well.”
I escorted Annie back to our charter boat, then returned to the rays with my mask and snorkel. The giant, peaceful creatures paid no attention to me as I dove among them to take once-in-a-lifetime stingray photographs in crystal clear, aqua water.

When our crew returned to the boat, the captain took us to a protected reef for diving. Annie reluctantly donned her mask and snorkel to join me in the turquoise water. We swam on the surface, holding onto a long, floating line tied to the dive platform. I dove fifteen feet down to a beautiful reef with multicolored coral. Sargent Majors, orange Triggerfish, and blue Queen Angelfish swarmed the reef in staggering schools larger than I had seen elsewhere in the Caribbean. This Cayman reef was an outstanding example of how mother nature thrives in isolated and protected conditions. Though Annie did not descend to the reef, I was pleased to see her float above it until I finished diving. We returned to our dive boat and enjoyed a quiet, beautiful ocean until we had to leave.

Back on Grand Cayman, we made our way to Margaritaville and ordered obligatory cheeseburgers and Margaritas. Listening to Jimmy Buffet music completed the ingredients to put us in a tropical state of mind.
“What do you think of this island?” I asked Annie.
We always compared a Caribbean Island to The Bahamas, where we had lived for a few years. We looked beyond tourist attractions and thought about what it would be like to live there from day to day.
“It is clean and new,” she said. “The water is gorgeous, and locals are friendly.”
Unlike some islands where Americans are despised.
“Yes. When we drove across the island, did you notice we saw no poor areas? Grand Cayman is one of the banking capitals of the world. How many banks do you think are on this island?”
“I didn’t see any banks as we drove around.”
“Wasn’t that weird? There are 111 banks here,” I said.
“Really?” she replied in disbelief.
“I said the same thing. Where are those banks? They hide them well. Also, did you notice how flat the land is?”
She had been around me long enough to know what I was thinking.
“Low and flat. There’s no hurricane protection here.”
“Right. The highest point is about twenty feet above sea level. They were smashed in ‘05 and had to rebuild most of the buildings on the island. This one is on stilts,” I noted.
“At least they can afford it. Banking brings in so much money, locals pay no taxes here.”
“Most other islands are poor with high taxes and high cost of living,” Annie said.
“We’ll just visit here,” Annie said. “I wouldn’t want to be here with no place to hide in a storm.”
“Right. Time for more Margaritas,” I said with a grin.

Stingray City(Gordon England) “I can’t wait to reach Grand Cayman tomorrow,” I said as my wife, Annie, and I sipped on rum drinks at a tiki bar overlooking the bay in Falmouth, Jamaica.
“Is that where we are going diving?” Annie asked.
“Oh yeah. We’ll go to Stingray City and dive with the rays.”
“What do you mean we? I’ll watch you swim with rays all you want. I’ve seen pictures of those stingrays bigger than me. Are you crazy? Their three-foot stinger would kill me for sure.”
“Have faith. The natives wouldn’t take us somewhere dangerous. That would be bad for business.”

We were on a cruise ship traveling a Western Caribbean route. On the previous day, we had explored a waterfall in Ocho Rios in Jamaica. Fortunately, we completed a fifty-foot-high climb over a gradual slope through small rapids without falling. Fifteen of us from the cruise boat climbed the slippery falls by holding on to each other and shuffling in a human chain. Going down was much easier than climbing up.
“Another round of drinks,” I told our bartender.
“Good move,” said Annie. “We have another hour before we go back to the ship.”
After replenishing our drinks, I said, “Let’s move to that hammock under the palm tree.”
“Good idea.”
We swung in the hammock until boarding time, ending another perfect day on a tropical island.

The following day, we left our ship early on a tender boat, sailing from our ship anchored offshore near George Town Harbour. I wanted plenty of time to explore Grand Cayman and snorkel in its warm water. I took my own dive gear rather than renting worn masks and snorkels used by who knows yesterday. Leaving the tender, I was impressed with a modernized terminal area receiving passengers from several cruise ships. Much of low-lying George Town had been severely damaged during Hurricane Emily in 2005. Recent reconstruction had created the most modernized buildings and infrastructure of any port I had seen in the Western Caribbean. One of the first tourist attractions I noticed on the seaside was a new Margaritaville Restaurant on stilts, elevating it to second-story height for storm protection. I looked forward to visiting Jimmy Buffet’s restaurant when we returned.

I hired a guide who led a group of us to his dive boat floating on crystal clear water. The first mate cast lines away from our vessel. Our deeply tanned and grizzled captain with a British accent circled the island, then took us across a shallow, sandy bay. Once again, I was traveling across tropical waters, inhaling warm salt air blowing through my hair.
“That must be Stingray City,” I said to Annie as I pointed toward a dozen boats assembled in a small area several miles from shore.
“Yes,” said the mate. “That be Stingray City.”
Our captain anchored on a four-foot-deep sandbar, in between two other boats anchored as part of a large circle where many tourists filled the water to look at giant stingrays. Large dark shapes swam between many tourists wading in gin clear water. Those had to be stingrays, almost as large as manta rays.
Annie stayed back when our passengers lined up to step off the dive platform.
“Are you coming?” I asked her.
“You go first. I’ll watch from here.”
“Okay. I’ll give you a report.”

I jumped into the sea and waded through chest-deep water to a group of people where a guide gave a lecture.
“Welcome to Stingray City, home to our pets year-round. No be afraid of them. They be friendly this time of year. Just move slowly, and they come to you for food. Don’t feed them; we do dat a couple of times a day. Gently pet da rays. Some of you be worried about da stingers. This ray in front of us is old female. She have no stinger, so you be safe. She likes to be petted and held. I stay here to watch while you have fun.”

I watched people pet the older, six-foot diameter ray with ease. Then I stepped forward for my turn. With minor hesitation, I reached toward the inch-thick creature and gently grabbed her silky skin just below the waterline. My minor concern disappeared when she did not react. When she raised part of her body above water, I turned around to let her rest a sizeable pectoral fin on my back. Oh, that was cool. If I wasn’t there, I would not believe a ray would be so friendly. Now I felt adventurous, so I turned around and slowly kissed the ray’s body. A large grin stayed on my face for several minutes after I stopped.

I watched dozens of smaller, black rays slowly swim among tourists. A few rays came within petting distance of me but most kept their distance. No wonder this was called Stingray City.
I returned to our boat and talked to Annie.
“Do you see how friendly these stingrays are?” I asked.
“Yes, but they’re so big.”
“They are as calm as our cat. Did you see me kiss one?”
“Yes,” Annie said with hesitation.
“Come on in. They won’t hurt you.”
“Well.”
“I’ll be right beside you. Nothing’s going to happen.”
“Okay. Just one time. You’ll be there, right?”
“Yes, I’ll be with you all the way,” I promised.
I helped Annie descend the dive ladder into clear, warm water.
I held her hand and said, “Now walk over here,” as I led her to the female ray.
“Oh Gordon. Are you sure?”
“It’s okay. Now stand still and wait for her to come to you.”
Annie squeezed my hand tight.
“Here she is. Reach out and touch her.”
Annie bravely made a quick pet, then turned away.
“I want to go back to our boat.”
I laughed and said, “You did well.”
I escorted Annie back to our charter boat, then returned to the rays with my mask and snorkel. The giant, peaceful creatures paid no attention to me as I dove among them to take once-in-a-lifetime stingray photographs in crystal clear, aqua water.

When our crew returned to the boat, the captain took us to a protected reef for diving. Annie reluctantly donned her mask and snorkel to join me in the turquoise water. We swam on the surface, holding onto a long, floating line tied to the dive platform. I dove fifteen feet down to a beautiful reef with multicolored coral. Sargent Majors, orange Triggerfish, and blue Queen Angelfish swarmed the reef in staggering schools larger than I had seen elsewhere in the Caribbean. This Cayman reef was an outstanding example of how mother nature thrives in isolated and protected conditions. Though Annie did not descend to the reef, I was pleased to see her float above it until I finished diving. We returned to our dive boat and enjoyed a quiet, beautiful ocean until we had to leave.

Back on Grand Cayman, we made our way to Margaritaville and ordered obligatory cheeseburgers and Margaritas. Listening to Jimmy Buffet music completed the ingredients to put us in a tropical state of mind.
“What do you think of this island?” I asked Annie.
We always compared a Caribbean Island to The Bahamas, where we had lived for a few years. We looked beyond tourist attractions and thought about what it would be like to live there from day to day.
“It is clean and new,” she said. “The water is gorgeous, and locals are friendly.”
Unlike some islands where Americans are despised.
“Yes. When we drove across the island, did you notice we saw no poor areas? Grand Cayman is one of the banking capitals of the world. How many banks do you think are on this island?”
“I didn’t see any banks as we drove around.”
“Wasn’t that weird? There are 111 banks here,” I said.
“Really?” she replied in disbelief.
“I said the same thing. Where are those banks? They hide them well. Also, did you notice how flat the land is?”
She had been around me long enough to know what I was thinking.
“Low and flat. There’s no hurricane protection here.”
“Right. The highest point is about twenty feet above sea level. They were smashed in ‘05 and had to rebuild most of the buildings on the island. This one is on stilts,” I noted.
“At least they can afford it. Banking brings in so much money, locals pay no taxes here.”
“Most other islands are poor with high taxes and high cost of living,” Annie said.
“We’ll just visit here,” Annie said. “I wouldn’t want to be here with no place to hide in a storm.”
“Right. Time for more Margaritas,” I said with a grin.

Please Rate This Story ?
  • Share this story on
  • 8

ADD COMMENT

COMMENTS (6)

Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.

Lillian Kazmierczak

01/29/2022

Gordon what a wonderful adventure swimming with stingrays! Im with your wife, I may have stayed on the boat too! very nice story.

Gordon what a wonderful adventure swimming with stingrays! Im with your wife, I may have stayed on the boat too! very nice story.

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Gordon England

01/30/2022

Glad to see a lady liking my guy stories

Glad to see a lady liking my guy stories

Help Us Understand What's Happening

Shirley Smothers

01/20/2022

Thank you for sharing. My Husband and I visted Grand Cayman once. I didn't duve but my Husband snorlked. Thank you for the memories.

Thank you for sharing. My Husband and I visted Grand Cayman once. I didn't duve but my Husband snorlked. Thank you for the memories.

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Gordon England

01/20/2022

You are most welcome. Time for you to go back and dive

You are most welcome. Time for you to go back and dive

Help Us Understand What's Happening

Gerald R Gioglio

01/20/2022

Thanks for the adventure, Gordon. We love the Carribbean we visited ST. Croix once and Aruba many times. Beautiful....yet deadly weather from time to time, as you well know. Peace, good and good health, Jerry

Thanks for the adventure, Gordon. We love the Carribbean we visited ST. Croix once and Aruba many times. Beautiful....yet deadly weather from time to time, as you well know. Peace, good and good health, Jerry

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Gordon England

01/30/2022

I can't get enough. I will be glad when covid is over and I can visit islands again

I can't get enough. I will be glad when covid is over and I can visit islands again

Help Us Understand What's Happening

JD

01/19/2022

That was a fun adventure you had, Gordon. Thanks for taking us all along for the journey and helping us to experience it, even if only vicariously. Happy short story STAR of the day! : )

That was a fun adventure you had, Gordon. Thanks for taking us all along for the journey and helping us to experience it, even if only vicariously. Happy short story STAR of the day! : )

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Gordon England

01/30/2022

You are most welcome. I can't wait to go back after covid

You are most welcome. I can't wait to go back after covid

Help Us Understand What's Happening

Kevin Hughes

01/16/2022

Hey Gordon,

After having Been to Grand Cayman many times – – I have to agree with most of your story. Kathy's experience was not with a stingray – but a baby octopus. The stingray she had no problems with pig but a baby octopus crawled up her arm and that is the first time I ever heard anyone scream underwater. Lol she swam like an Olympic swimmer back to the catamaran.

Read More

Hey Gordon,

After having Been to Grand Cayman many times – – I have to agree with most of your story. Kathy's experience was not with a stingray – but a baby octopus. The stingray she had no problems with pig but a baby octopus crawled up her arm and that is the first time I ever heard anyone scream underwater. Lol she swam like an Olympic swimmer back to the catamaran.

I wouldn't want to be on any of those islands during a hurricane. And I wish there was a way that we could increase the standard of living on most of those Caribbean islands that we love to visit. Maybe someday we'll figure out someway to repay those people for the beautiful places they let us play at. Smiles, Kevin

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Gordon England

01/16/2022

Funny Kevin. I would be creeped out with an octopus.You just gave me a chill. Those islands are better than third world countries. Part of their charm to a tourist is the low standard of living. When you live their you want it to increase. Hmmm

Funny Kevin. I would be creeped out with an octopus.You just gave me a chill. Those islands are better than third world countries. Part of their charm to a tourist is the low standard of living. When you live their you want it to increase. Hmmm

Help Us Understand What's Happening

Gail Moore

01/11/2022

Gordon, your adventures are awesome. You have amazing memories running around in your mind.
You are very lucky to have had such a fantastic lifestyle.
Well done :-)

Gordon, your adventures are awesome. You have amazing memories running around in your mind.
You are very lucky to have had such a fantastic lifestyle.
Well done :-)

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Gordon England

01/16/2022

Thank you Gail. It is disappointing that my stories and books do not sell. But it gives me a boost when so many people read them

Thank you Gail. It is disappointing that my stories and books do not sell. But it gives me a boost when so many people read them

Help Us Understand What's Happening
Storystar Premium Members Don't See Any Advertising. Learn More.

Advertisement

FOLLOW US ON

  • Twitter

LIKE US ON

  • Facebook

STORY CATEGORIES

  • TRUE LIFE FICTION
  • KIDS TEENS ADULTS

QUICK LINKS

  • Publish Story
  • Read Stories
  • Contact us
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2010-2025 STORY STAR. All rights reserved.

Gift Your Points
( available)
Help Us Understand What's Happening