The stingrays began gathering in the area during the 1980s when fisherman, returning from an excursion, stopped in the area to clean their fish in the calm water of the shallows and sandbar. The fish guts and squid that were thrown overboard attracted the stingrays who normally feed on mollusks and crustaceans, and on the occasional small fish. Soon the stingrays began to associate the sound of a boat motor with food. Years went by, and eventually some local divers realized that the stingrays could be fed by hand.
Today, an estimated 30 to 40 Southern Stingrays have made Stingray City their home, surviving on squid and food offered by snorkelers and divers. Many tour and excursion boats, along with private watercraft, gather at Stingray City in large numbers. The water is three to five feet in depth – perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
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