Stingrays

Steve S · Post by **Steve S** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:01 pm

I'm surprised there has been no posts about how to safely snorkel with stingrays in light of Steve Irwins's death. Almost stepped on one this year while entering the shallow end of Chocolate Hole.

Post by **Anthony** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:09 pm

That was a very freak accident - if you would have stepped on one, you may have been stung, but most likely not through the heart. I have been around dozens of them for long periods of time, and never felt as if I was in a position to have one sting me.

promoguy · Post by **promoguy** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:15 pm

I have also heard that with Steve's passing, this makes for approximately 60 deaths since the 1880's or something close to that year.

So very rare.

chattycat · Post by **chattycat** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:28 pm

That's why I don't snorkel--I like to stay wayyy away from those sea critters!!! But really, that was so sad...I mean what are the odds of something like that happening anyway--him being stung in the first place and then in the heart? Very sad.

Eric in NJ · Post by **Eric in NJ** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:31 pm

I think the size of the rays off the aussie coast are quite a bit larger than any we encounter in St John also.

Robin in NC · Post by **Robin in NC** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:35 pm

I have some "safety tips" for snorkeling with rays, but I shared them with my wife and she said they were in bad taste. So I'll wait a few days and let the horror pass, then it may be time for something light.

promoguy · Post by **promoguy** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:39 pm

Robin in NC wrote:I have some "safety tips" for snorkeling with rays, but I shared them with my wife and she said they were in bad taste. So I'll wait a few days and let the horror pass, then it may be time for something light.

Just a thought and take it for whatever you like, but even a few days might be too soon.

He seemed to be a very decent guy and well.....you can take it from there!!!

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:00 pm

I've been a fan of Steve Irwin for many years, but at the same time, whenever he pulled some poor critter out of it's hole, I've always said, "I wish he'd stop tormenting those poor animals." My first reaction to this accident was, "he was probably messin' with that poor ray!"

That being said, this definitely was a freak accident. In reading the accounts from online newspapers in Australia, he apparently wasn't messing with the ray at the time it happened, and it was all captured on film (which we may or may not ever see - and I don't know if I'd even want to).

I'm so sad this happened, but it won't keep me from snorkeling or swimming with rays in the future. In Seal Beach (California) just this past weekend approximately 20 people were stung by rays and none of them were life-threatening.

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:09 pm

My immediate thought was Horrible, yes. Surprising, no. I was only surprised that it was such a freakish event that ended his life. What he did was dangerous. Informative and interesting to some. A great conservationist in some minds, kind of a nut to others. Either way he seemed like a good guy and had a great spirit. It is very sad, but not terribly surprising.

I am OVERLY cautious in the water. I LOVE the water in any form, but I have a healthy fear of water itself and the creatures who live in it. I think it is just good to remember that its best to look and not touch. It is their territory (I am not saying he did anything at all to provoke the attack) and I am just happy to see a turtle float by. I choose not to pursue them in any way. But that's just me.

CariBert · Post by **CariBert** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:31 pm

I have to say that it was a freak, very freak, accident. I have have been swimming with the Rays in The Cayman's on 4 different occassions. I've held them, petted them, fed them and had them rub up against me with no fear of them at all. It is not in their nature to be aggressive or offensive. They are a defensive animal.

I swam with Sammy the sting ray off of Buck Island on St. Croix. I swam down to Sammy, and petted her/him and all was just fine. When the other folks saw what I was doing, they all jumped in the water, which was too much for Sammy, and he/she swam away.

There is no reason to be afraid of snorkeling, most of the sea life are pretty much afraid of you, you are way bigger than they are. Not to say don't use caution, as with any sport or activity, you must be cautious. You probably have a better chance of killing some coral than the coral killing you.

Most of the stings from rays occur as a result of a defensive act, because they were stepped on, or were being mauled. Steve did not maul the animals, but he certainly messed with them, to the point of it being dangerous. That was his forte. Otherwise, people would not have been interested in watching him.

It was very unfortunate, and the world will be a much sadder place without him, but unless you emmulate Steve Irwin when you are around wild life, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

I'll step off the soap box and turn it overe to some one else now.

-Bert

tag0620 · Post by **tag0620** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:15 pm

Most stings occur when the stingrays are stepped on while submerged under the sand. If in a sandy area...shuffle your feet instead of stepping (even then...watch for urchins) and they should swim away from the vibration before you even get to them.

It's very sad!! The video shows that Steve did nothing to threaten the ray...they are assuming it may have felt trapped between him and the cameraman as there were no other signs of why.

peterb · Post by **peterb** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:46 pm

From what I gather from the internet, the ray was buried in the sand resting in shallow water. Steve may not have even been aware of the ray and swam over top of it. The resting ray was startled by Steve's shadowy presence suddenly appearing close above it and acted quickly, reflexively and defensively.

My only experience with rays has been on STJ and they were always awake, aware of me and swimming along.

Were the ray Steve encountered not surprised suddenly, I doubt that it would have reacted the way it did.

Still, I'm not at all surprised that this is the way Steve died...it seemed to me that it was only a matter of time considering the amount of time he spent pestering dangerous critters.

Didn't he make a commercial a few years ago where he pretends to die when there's no antivenom present when he gets bit by a poisonous snake? Less funny now I reckon...

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:05 pm

Last trip I snorkeled over a ray at Maho that was only in about 2 feet of water. It did freak me out a bit--he was all covered in sand and you would not have been able to see him if you were walking:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/184725241/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/76/184725241_7f0cd2c347_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="maho ray"></a>

That's a good tip about shuffling your feet to alert the rays that you are there. I'll keep it in mind.

Jan&MikeVa · Post by **Jan&MikeVa** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 5:46 pm

We've swam with the Stingrays twice in the Caymans and they are, or seem, very sweet and docile.

We were told all about the "Stingray Shuffle" for walking, and it worked! Mike was shuffling along and startled one laying on the bottom, it took off immediatley.

Jamestown · Post by **Jamestown** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 6:51 pm

Didn't he die from a hole in his heart caused by the barb piercing his chest? I'm guessing he bled to death.

Jamestown

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Stingrays

Stingrays

99.9% POSITIVE you'll be safe around sting rays!

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Stingrays

Stingrays

99.9% POSITIVE you'll be safe around sting rays!