STINGRAYS

It feels similar to the sting of a bee.

Just stay away from it if at all possible.

In order to "stay away" from Stingrays, you have to follow a few simple rules.

1. Shuffle Your Feet
   

2. Create Vibration while walking
   

3. Look where you are stepping (when possible)

First, shuffling your feet while walking out to the line up will be the first line of defense against stingray injury. Stingrays, like any animal, when cornered or trapped will do whatever it takes to free itself from a predator (or your foot). When stepping on top of a stingray, you are cornering a wild animal and it will sting you to get free. However, if you shuffle your feet you are more likely to send constant vibrations throughout the ocean floor, alerting the sea life that you are there. As well as have the added protection of the seafloor and nothing getting under your feet, you will be more likely to kick them as opposed to step on them, and they will swim away.

Second is Create Vibrations while walking. While walking out if you are slapping the water with your board or slapping the water with your hand, you are essentially alerting all sea life that you are coming that way. Stingrays and most fish will try to avoid or hide from any humans they come across. They are much more afraid of us that we are of them (hopefully).

So be sure to slap the water and create vibrations when walking out in an area known for having stingrays.

Third and lastly, is look where you are stepping. This may seem intuitive, but in reality while you are walking out on the sandbar to paddle out, your mind is thinking of everything except "where are my feet landing" Every once in a while, especially near sandbank incline or declines, check your foot placement and look around for anything moving around. Unfortunately these fish are almost a sandy brown color with black spots. They are hard to see if they are not moving. But once they do, you will be able to clearly see them.