15 Fun Facts About Corals of Barbados

• The island of Barbados was once a coral reef.
• Corals are tiny animals (not plants) called polyps.
• Coral polyps belong to the same group as the jelly fish family.
• Polyps live in colonies and their fused skeletons are called reefs.
• Reefs are the largest structures on the planet created by animals.
• There are many different types of corals; hard corals like brain coral and soft corals like sea fans.
• It is illegal to damage or sell coral.
• Corals take a very long time to grow (0.5 – 2cm per year).
• Many of our corals spawn, all at once and only once per year.
• Coral reefs around Barbados protect the beaches from erosion and wave action.
• Reef fish need the coral for shelter and survival.
• Our white sand is primarily derived from coral reefs; no coral, no beach , no tourism!!!!
• There at least 34 named coral reef and wreck dive sites around Barbados.
• Run off of chemicals or other nutrients from the land kill our corals.
• Atlantis Submarine dives on the west coast on Freshwater Bay aka Clarkes Reef.