Stingrays are common on Hilton Head Island beaches, especially during summer time. They can be found in calmer shallow areas and are extremely skittish and quickly swim away when they spot humans.
When the water is murky, from the sandbars in front of Hilton Head Island, it may be hard for humans to spot them and vice versa. Stepping on them may cause them shoot out the barb from their tail and do damage. Experts recommend doing the “stingray shuffle” by dragging your feet through the sand as you enter the water, which usually scares away the skittish fish.
When stranded or caught from fishing we do not recommend touching them, as this fisherman attempted to do with a large stingray catch, as they can spin around with their extremely flexible body and sting to protect themselves.
Look around before you enter the water. You are entering the stingrays’ natural habitat, that they’ll fearfully share with you.
