Myths and Legends

Overturning misconceptions about stingrays led to the development of Grand Cayman's most popular dive. A family of 14 expectant stingrays waiting for divers to arrive. You may not know it today, but stingrays had an image problem for years. As far back as the 1930s, Popular Mechanics magazine labeled them ''vermin of the deep,'' stating that they were ''vicious and valueless marauders'' that should be exterminated.That image persisted for more than 50 years until random chance and, later, some persistence changed the stingray's image forever and created Stingray City - the most well-known dive site in the world.In 1986, Jay Ireland was working as divemaster and photographer on Grand Cayman. He noticed southern stingrays schooling daily off Grand Cayman's North Sound. For years, fishing boats anchored in the sound while they cleaned their daily catch, tossing the fish entrails overboard. Jay quickly realized that the rays' ''coincidental'' arrival always followed the fish cleaning ritual.At that time the stingrays' evil image persisted. Local attitudes about stingrays ranged from indifference to loathing. But Jay was intrigued and decided to push the envelope by approaching the animals underwater.Armed only with a camera, Jay discovered that the animals were not aggressive, but shy. He also discovered that their trust could be bought with daily feedings of ballyhoo fish. Soon he had the animals literally eating out of his hand. He was rewarded for his diligence and patience with one-of-a-kind photographs of the mysterious stingrays.But the cost of ballyhoo and the rigors of the daily feeding schedule were taking a toll on Ireland. Friends showed little interest in the stingray project until fellow divemaster Pat Kenny heard about the phenomenon. ''Pat was excited. He couldn't wait to see the feedings,'' recalls Jay. ''It was Pat that started naming the animals and keeping track of individuals. He would get very worried if one of the pack was missing.''We shared both the cost of food and feeding schedule responsibility. I remember on a few occasions, just before paydays, Pat and I would split a can of tuna fish for dinner, then use the rest of our money to buy food for the rays. Pat became the rays' adopted guardian.''In 1986 Pat Kenny wrote the first article about Stingray City, titled ''Valley of the Rays.'' In his article Pat challenged stingray mythology. He described the animals as ''large, soft and friendly'' and encouraged tourists to reach out and stroke the animals. This feature ignited a spark and soon many of the locals were swimming with the rays.Ron Kipp, owner of Bob Soto's Diving, noticed the surge of interest in the rays. When underwater photographers Geri Murphy and Paul Tzimolous visited Cayman, Kipp included the stingrays on their itinerary. Geri Murphy immediately realized the strong tourism potential and returned to California to write a story about the site she christened ''Stingray City.'' An image of a stingray adorned the next issue of Skin Diver magazine titled, ''Stingrays, Friend or Foe?'' The most successful underwater attraction in history was launched. Soto's Diving began regularly taking visiting divers to Stingray City. Within a short time, rays were celebrities. A front-page article in The Wall Street Journal and a cover story in National Geographic added fuel to the tourism fire. Before Stingray City, rays were feared in Cayman. Today they are legends. Fifteen years after Jay Ireland and Pat Kenny started visiting their ''Valley of the Rays,'' the area is diving's best-known attraction - and with good reason. The habituated rays make for fun interactions and the site's 20-foot depth mean you get plenty of time to play with them. Now there is a second site a few hundred yards away called Sandbar that is just 3-5 feet deep. The site makes it possible for children and non-divers to enjoy the rays, too.Pat Kenny still lives on Grand Cayman, dives often, and visits the rays whenever possible. As the self-appointed stingray guardian, Pat is constantly pressing for legislation that protects the animals. Naturalist and photographer Jay Ireland is still curious about the world around him. He is co-owner of Bradley Ireland Productions and expresses his inquisitive nature in still images and film. For more information about diving Stingray City, click on the home page below.