For more than 30 years, those who have dived and snorkelled in Grand Cayman have enjoyed a unique first-hand encounter with dozens of friendly stingrays that gather at two sites in the clear waters of the North Sound − Stingray City and the sandbar. This creature experience is on the bucket lists of divers across the world. The celebrity rays have been featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, the cover of National Geographic Magazine, and most dive publications. NBC’s Al Roker dived with the rays in 1989 and put them on network TV. The exposure has made Stingray City one of the most popular dive and snorkel sites in the world, and it contributes significantly to the local tourism economy. Cayman’s celebrity stingrays are now under the full legal protection of the Cayman Islands Government, which amended its New Conservation Law to extend protection to Southern Stingrays in Cayman Waters. Before the amendment, the law only protected them in the Sandbar or Stingray City, designated as Wildlife Interaction Zones, and in marine parks or designated environmental zones. The amendment to the Conservation Law also extends protection to Eagle Rays and Manta Rays in local waters. Read more here: scubaverse/2014/07/31/stingray-city-caymans-1-tourism-attraction-enjoys-full-protection/ #scuba #diving #marine #ocean #conservation #stingrays #stingraycity #thesandbar #grandcayman #caymanislands Cayman Islands Tourism Association Ocean Frontiers, Ltd. Red Sail Sports Grand Cayman Divetech DiveTech / Cobalt Coast Sunset House, Grand Caymans Hotel For Divers, by Divers Cayman Islands Department of Environment
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 10:16:43 +0000