Animal Flower Bay

Animal Flower Bay

Under the rocks in Animal Flower Bay is the Animal Flower Cave in Barbados. It is the only accessible sea cave on the island. It was first discovered by two English explorers in 1780 at its sea entrance. The cave rises six feet above high water, although it was formed at sea level. This happened because Barbados rises by 1 inch every 1000 years. Coral steps lead down into the cave through an opening in the roof, built in 1912. Inside the cave you can still find some sea anemones, which the locals call animal flowers, hence the name of the cave. The flower is made up of tentacles that, in the larger species, can sting and paralyze passing fish. For safety, the tentacles retract into the stem or stump when in contact with a foreign object such as a stick. The flower then will wait a while before emerging from the stem again to let the danger pass. The coral floor of the cave is estimated to be between 400 000 and 500 000 years old. While the younger coral above the main floor is about 126 000 years old. The swimming pool is located in a separate chamber. The transparent and still water does not reveal its depth, but it appears deceptively shallow. On calm days, you can swim in the cave's natural rock pools or gaze out over the Atlantic Ocean through the ocean view windows.