Swimming with stingrays: is it safe to go in the water?

Since "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin died tragically from a stingray barb while filming a documentary in Australia, many are wondering whether popular swim-with-the-stingray attractions such as Stingray City in Grand Cayman are safe.

In a word, "yes," according to the cruise lines that sail to the Caribbean and various tour operators that run trips to so-called Stingray City. "(Irwin's death) is one of the rarest occurrences you can possibly believe," Pat Kenney, diver manager for Red Sail Sports told CNN. "They're very docile creatures."

Statements released by cruise lines that operate in the Caribbean concur. "I think everyone understands that this is a rare circumstance," Royal Caribbean's Lyan Sierra-Caro told Cruisecritic.com. Similar sentiments were expressed by Carnival, Disney, and Holland America.

Experts seem to concur that the circumstances around Steve Irwin's incident, where he and his cameraman had unwittingly surprised and boxed in a "wild" stingray, are totally different than the nearly-tame stingray feeding enjoyed by tourists.

Stingray City, which opened in the mid-1970s, gives visitors a chance to walk amidst and feed stingrays attracted by the years of free food. The attraction greets an average of 600 visitors a day, none of whom have ever suffered "any serious injuries," according to Mark Button, an operator for Moby Dick Tours which has been escorting visitors to the site for over 20 years. The rays at Stingray City are free to come and go... and they choose to come since they've been hand-fed for so many years.

Stingray City is one of the most popular attractions for cruise visitors to Grand Cayman, and most cruise lines calling at Grand Cayman, including Carnival and Royal Caribbean, offer excursions to the site.