We don’t know whether it is still possible to do so, but if it is we highly recommend that one swims with the stingrays when visiting the French Polynesian island of Moorea.
The organisers of the experience had the stingrays gather in waist-deep water and we spent perhaps half to three-quarters of an hour with them. They seemed to take it in turns to come up behind us and wrap their ‘wings’ around our respective shoulders. The skin on their undersides felt like silk and when we’d turn our heads their countenances appeared to be smiling at us.
They were accompanied by black-tipped reef sharks, however, these kept their distance and just when one would turn to swim towards us, it would dart away just as swiftly.
Tiki enjoyed herself so much that she didn’t want to leave when it was time to return to the shore.
Naturally, interacting with any animal in its own environment, can come with an inherent risk and, therefore, this should be at the forefront of one’s mind, before undertaking such a venture.
We were warned, prior to entering the water, not to lift our feet, but rather to shuffle them.