Imagine standing in chest-deep water, sometimes shallower, with these beautiful creatures dancing in the crystal-blue water all around you. It is like the stingrays are flying through the water, gliding effortlessly. As you reach out to feel them, they brush right up next to you, so you can feel how soft and smooth they really are. Put on a mask and snorkel and get an up-close look at these genteel creatures of the sea. You are even given the chance to hold one of them, with no harm done whatsoever.

On the return trip, your captain will take you to one of three other locations, to some deeper water, to explore other kinds of sea life. One of the more popular spots is called The Aquarium (see photos). It is a reef structure full of Caribbean sea life. You have plenty of opportunities to take some wonderful photos, so don't forget your underwater cameras. As of recently, a professional underwater cameraman accompanies your group to film your reaction to the tow locations, and the videos are then edited and are available for purchase and shipped to your home address. Once all of your snorkeling is complete, the captain pulls the anchor and raises the sails for a wonderful cruise back to land. This is an experience that everyone should have when visiting the Cayman Islands!!!!

They take you to the famed Stingray City. Those stingrays are very friendly - a little too close for comfort in my opinion! Then you go to a stop to see coral and friendly little fish near a shallow reef and, depending on time and weather permitting, maybe another stop to see a shipwreck. Very cool surprise!

Right after the last stop, they dump a bucket with fish food for the sharks. Yes, that's right sharks. You can swim above them for a bit, but then they get waaay too close for comfort! I jumped out of the water immediately! My husband stayed for a bit - he was one of the last ones in the water. Take a look at our travelogues for lots more pictures.

Now that everyone is all salty and back on the boat, lunch is served! A deli-style lunch with all types of salads, chicken and breads. All types of large cookies for dessert. Lunch is pretty good. They also have a cash bar.

In the end, we decided to go ashore and attempt to purchase a tour that included Sting Ray City, a separate snorkeling stop, and also some time at Seven Mile Beach. We wanted to do it all. For $35 per person, we were taken to the Yacht Club, where we boarded a boat with 20 or so passengers for the half-hour ride to Sting Ray City. Oh no! There are two "party boats" each with a hundred passengers, but one is about to leave -- thank goodness! We don our snorkeling gear (life jackets are available for those who doubt their swimming skills) and two guides enter the water with us. They have a small igloo filled with squid. They are very helpful in assisting everyone get to the sandbar and making them feel comfortable.

The sandbar is about two to three feet deep and about 50 yards wide and very long. About six boats are anchored in the area. Everyone is spread about and it really doesn't feel especially crowded. The rays look like big rocks, but they are moving about. The guide picks up a ray and lets us pet him (slimy on the bottom and scratchy on top). He shows us his stinger (near his long tail) and his mouth (on the underside). We snorkel and swim for a while with 20 rays of various sizes.

Soon it is feeding time. Oh my! Here they come, 40 to 60 of them -- everywhere you look, there are rays swimming around and bumping into you. I'm laughing, I'm screaming, but not really afraid, just excited and sometimes startled. It was so so exciting. We're given a chance to hand feed them. I drop the first piece of squid and try again. This time I'm braver. He sucks it right out of my palm. I am even able to hold a ray on my outstretched arms for about a minute and we are face to face. He's almost as big as I am and heavy, even with the buoyancy of the water.

I must say that never ever had I anticipated my reaction. It was so much fun. We will do it again and recommend it for all ages.