Stingrays

[DeepDishChix]

Does anyone know how deep stingrays go? Do they like it in deeper or shallower water? Also what if i'm getting off my boogie board and step on one? And no, i'm not bringing a stick with me to test the ocean floor.

 

[Bunnylady]

Stingrays certainly are found in shallow water - some even venture into fresh water. If you step on one, there's a pretty good likelihood that you could get stung. It's unlikely to kill you (what happened to Steve Irwin was a freak accident), but it hurts like the dickens, and should get prompt medical attention.

 

[DeepDishChix]

thx. how deep will they go?

 

[Michael OShay]

thx. how deep will they go?

They will sometimes go several hundred feet deep. However your odds of stepping on a stingray are very small. I have been snorkling and boogie boarding for years and have only seen them on rare occasions and (as far as I know) have never come close to stepping on one. None of my friends who snorkle, boogie board, or surf have ever stepped on one or been stung by one either. My advice is to stop worrying about stingrays and enjoy your boogie boarding. )

 

[drumstick diva]

If you splash a lot - it warns them you are coming, they don't deliberately sting you, they try to get out of the way.

 

[MeepBeep]

However your odds of stepping on a stingray are very small.

This is fully dependent on your location and time of the year...

I vacation on Sanibel-Captiva island in FL and during the summer months stingrays literally carpet the shallow waters, if you don't pay attention you will almost certainly step on one as they are everywhere... But, if you are mindful and do the shuffle upon entering the water the chance of getting stung is low... I have had many brush across me when walking in the shallows and I have even gingerly stepped on a few by accident, never stung though...

 

[Michael OShay]

This is fully dependent on your location and time of the year...

I vacation on Sanibel-Captiva island in FL and during the summer months stingrays literally carpet the shallow waters, if you don't pay attention you will almost certainly step on one as they are everywhere... But, if you are mindful and do the shuffle upon entering the water the chance of getting stung is low... I have had many brush across me when walking in the shallows and I have even gingerly stepped on a few by accident, never stung though...

MeepBeep has a good point. I've never lived in Florida or even swam off the beaches there so I certainly can't speak from experience regarding Florida. I have swam, snorkled, and boogie boarded off lots of beaches in Texas, California, and Hawaii and never had any issues with stingrays in any of those beaches. And drumstick diva and MeepBeep are right; if you shuffle your feet disturbing the sand as you go, the stingrays should move out of your way.

 

[MeepBeep]

MeepBeep has a good point. I've never lived in Florida or even swam off the beaches there so I certainly can't speak from experience regarding Florida.

It's a sight to see for sure, on a calm day with no beach traffic you would be hard pressed to find a 10x10 area of the shoreline that doesn't have a ray... Since we do a lot of shell hunting late at night or very early morning to avoid the crowds, that was pretty much the norm...

 

[Michael OShay]

It's a sight to see for sure, on a calm day with no beach traffic you would be hard pressed to find a 10x10 area of the shoreline that doesn't have a ray... Since we do a lot of shell hunting late at night or very early morning to avoid the crowds, that was pretty much the norm...

I'd love to see it.

 

[DeepDishChix]

I live in San Diego, and my brother got stung like a month ago. He barely got any venom though so he wasn't crying or screaming. He didn't even know he got stung.

I'm just scared about getting off my board, cuz i'm afraid i'll step on one when i get off the board. My brother got stung when he was getting of his boogie board and touched the ground. Ya'll are great!