Surfside Beach Local service guide

Stingray safety

Shuffle your feet in shallow sandy water

Use the stingray shuffle when you enter shallow coastal water over a sandy bottom. Stingrays usually stay still and hidden when approached, but may use their tail spine when someone steps on or startles them.

Sources checked August 21, 2026: California Sea Grant stingray avoidance guide and University of Florida Extension stingray shuffle guide .

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How to do the stingray shuffle

  • Keep your feet on the sandy bottom.
  • Shuffle or drag your feet instead of taking high steps.
  • Move slowly so a stingray can notice you and swim away.

Enter and leave the water

Enter: As soon as your feet enter shallow sandy water, start shuffling them along the bottom.

Leave: Keep shuffling as you leave the water until you reach dry sand.

Source: California Sea Grant stingray avoidance guide · Source: University of Florida Extension stingray shuffle guide

Stingray safety questions

Where should I use the stingray shuffle?
Use the stingray shuffle when you enter shallow coastal water over a sandy bottom.
Source: University of Florida Extension stingray shuffle guide
Why should I shuffle my feet?
Stingrays usually stay still and hidden when approached, but may use their tail spine when someone steps on or startles them. Shuffling warns a stingray that you are nearby so it can move away.
Source: California Sea Grant stingray avoidance guide
How should I enter shallow sandy water?
As soon as your feet enter shallow sandy water, start shuffling them along the bottom.
Source: University of Florida Extension stingray shuffle guide
How should I leave shallow sandy water?
Keep shuffling as you leave the water until you reach dry sand.
Source: University of Florida Extension stingray shuffle guide