Coral polyps are tiny animals, smaller than a fingernail, that build a hard limestone shell around themselves for protection. When millions of polyps live together and their shells pile up over many years, they create a reef. Barbados sits on a limestone platform that is largely made up of ancient coral, so the island itself is deeply connected to coral reef history.
The reefs around Barbados are home to more than 50 species of coral and hundreds of species of fish. Some popular snorkelling spots have old shipwrecks resting on the reef, now covered in coral and hosting whole communities of fish. The water around Barbados is so clear that you can sometimes see the reef from a boat on the surface.
Barbados takes protecting its reefs very seriously. Marine protected areas have been created around parts of the coast, and scientists monitor the health of the reefs regularly. Healthy reefs also protect the island — they break the force of waves before they reach the shore, which helps prevent erosion of Barbados's famous beaches.