Barbados is a coral island and its beaches are mainly made from finely ground coral. Of course, not all of Barbados' coast is sand; there are mangrove swamps, cliffs, tide pools and areas where beds of low lying coral rock, sandstone, clay or shale reach out to the sea.

Barbados' swamps are to be found in Chancery Lane, Inch Marlow and Graeme Hall in the south and south-west of the island. They are the major wetlands of Barbados providing an assemblage of plants and animals forming an important link in the food chain of offshore fish and birds.

Low lying rock formations are particularly prevalent along the north-east and south-eastern points; periwinkles, sea anemones, crabs and snails make their home along these rocks.

Tidal flats and wave ridges occur mostly off the east coast within eroded limestone plateaus and other low lying rock formations.

On the south and south-west coasts you will find many tide pools, an important ecological resource, acting as nurseries for juvenile fish and other permanent residents like the ghost crab and sea roaches as well as marine plants like sea moss which is made into a health drink.

Cliffs of coral and sandstone overlook calm bays and rugged coastlines and sometimes small, cozy soft sand beaches nestle between heads of coral sculptured by the sea. Most of the larger cliffs are in the north, in the parish of St. Lucy.