The main risk is that they can be very well camouflaged if they are sitting on the sea floor, so if you step on them by accident they may sting. Steve Irwin’s situation was a real oddity, as he was stung in the heart (he was swimming over top of the ray and it must have gotten spooked) - more commonly people are stung in the foot which is painful but not deadly.
Like most wildlife, they should be given space if you are unsure. But there are many tame ones that are fed regularly near tourist resorts, and they tend to swim up and tickle your legs when you stand in the water.
The main risk is that they can be very well camouflaged if they are sitting on the sea floor, so if you step on them by accident they may sting. Steve Irwin’s situation was a real oddity, as he was stung in the heart (he was swimming over top of the ray and it must have gotten spooked) - more commonly people are stung in the foot which is painful but not deadly.
Like most wildlife, they should be given space if you are unsure. But there are many tame ones that are fed regularly near tourist resorts, and they tend to swim up and tickle your legs when you stand in the water.