As the remaining tourists embark on the boat, I take a brief moment to admire the beauty of where I am. In contrast to the cold, snowy January days that plague Canada, the winter months are rather warm here in the Cayman Islands. It is currently a modest 25 degrees with no clouds to  protect me from the unforgiving sun. There is a light wind creating little ripples on the aqua blue water which is synonymous with the caribbean. In the distance, I can make out the distinct faint calls of a family of toucans. The nearby beach is marked by a lone palm tree, gently swaying over the picturesque white sand. When my neck begins to sizzle, I snap out of my trance, the boat begins to move, and our journey to Stingray City begins.

The first hour or so of our adventure is going very smoothly. The wind is pushing our catamaran across the water at a brisk pace. The occasional wave hits the side of the boat, splashing a continuous thin mist into the air, consequently allowing the faint taste of sea salt to linger on my lips. In addition, a pod of dolphins swims close to the boat, their dark dorsal fins effortlessly slicing through the blue water as a knife slices through warm butter. Later on in the day, the heat begins to intensify, and  the lethal combination of warm weather, the relaxing bobbing of the boat, and the soothing crash of waves begins to overpower me. I am soon desperately fighting to stay awake.

After 45 minutes of drifting in and out of sleep, the crew eventually drops the anchor, signalling our arrival. Our guide gives us a brief explanation on the dangers of the area. He tells us not to swim past the rock bed as the depth drops from 12 feet to 500 feet, and to remain calm if a shark happens to swim by. We are also told to be gentle with the stingrays, as they can become harmful if they feel endangered. The atmosphere of the boat immediately perks up at the mention of these mysterious creatures that we will see in mere moments. As we all put on our snorkel gear, there is a constant chatter among the parents, and kids are running around the deck, as no one is able to hide their excitement.

I am among the first tourists to take the plunge from the bow of the boat and splash into the sea below. Anticipating the water to be cold, I am pleasantly surprised by its warmth. It feels like I am swimming in a warm bath tub rather than an actual ocean. Once I am able to get my bearings, I begin to swim around and explore this magical location.

Stingray City is an isolated piece of paradise that has miraculously evaded the pollution of the modern world. It’s waters are as clear as crystals, and remarkably calm. Judging by the burning sensation from the scrape on my back, they must also be pretty salty. The ocean floor is covered with large shells and rocks, making it resemble the overview of a large city. Numerous tropical fish representing each colour of the rainbow are peacefully interacting with each other. Every time I would bring my head up out of the water, the tempting smell of barbecuing fish filled the air, inviting me back to the boat.

Choosing to ignore my hunger, I plunge my head back into the water and spot the quick movement of a dark shadow from the corner of my eye. Hoping for it to be a stingray, I dive down to take a better look. Once I reach the bottom, I notice that the pressure is much more intense. My goggles are now tightly pressed against my face, and my ears ring as if I were in the aftermath of an explosion. I am quickly distracted from this pain by the diamond like figure of a stingray slowly swimming in front of me.

Ignoring the clear instructions given by our tour guide, I tentatively reach my hand out to touch the ray. It’s skin is remarkably smooth, and feels a lot like wet velvet. I followed the strange creature around for as long as I could, before my lungs screamed for air, forcing me to resurface. We continue to swim in this paradise for another hour and half, giving me ample time to touch, swim with and even feed the stingrays. I am as happy as a kid in a candy store.

After the swim is over, we all return to the boat, the remains from the barbecue are distributed to the tourists, and we begin our venture home.  During this journey, the mood is much more tame. Everyone is exhausted, silent, and listening to the flapping sound of the wind hitting the mainsail. We soon arrive back at the marina and thank the guides before leaving. Even though I was only there for a brief amount of time, I will never forget my stay at Stingray City!