Hamelin Bay is one of the perfect places in the world.

White sand beaches stretch as far as the eye can see in either direction. The water is a blue that even National Geographic couldn’t manufacture between their glossy pages. It’s the perfect place to walk, swim, and I imagine on some days, surf.

Hamelin Bay is also a sting ray sanctuary.

The day we were there about ten rays were cruising the shallow waters along the shore, whisking in and around our feet and sticking their wings out of the water. The biggest was about four feet across; smaller than the giant one that I saw at Canal Rocks yesterday, but still impressive inches from your ankles.

We took a few photos and a little video for you.

My Dad will insist that I had a stunt double, as he’d never believe that I’d let a ray get that close. He remembers me shrieking through my snorkel, crying if I had to put my feet down in a sandy spot in Big Sandy Bay on the Yucatan Coast, and climbing up onto his back if one came anywhere close when we were diving for the day’s dinner. Believe it or not, I stood still, did not scream, and let the big aliens whisper soft around my feet.