Five Facts About Coral You Didn't Know

With our breathtaking beaches, lavish resorts, and abundant, year-round sunshine, The Bahamas is a truly out-of-this-world destination. But dip beneath the surface of our inviting coastal waters, and you’ll discover another world altogether: a realm of majestic marine animals, storied shipwrecks, and perhaps most captivating of all, coral reefs!

The Bahamas is home to one-third of the Caribbean's coral reefs, including the 225-km-long Andros Barrier Reef — the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Dubbed the rainforests of the sea, these dazzling underwater colonies are crucial to the health of our oceans, capturing carbon, reducing erosion, and providing a habitat for fish and other marine life.

Ready to take a deep dive into the fascinating world of coral reefs? Read on to learn our five favourite facts about coral.

Corals Are Animals, Not Plants

At first glance, you might guess that corals are plants, or possibly even rock formations — but they’re actually part of the animal kingdom! Like their close relatives the sea pen, jellyfish, and sea anemone, corals are invertebrates, meaning they do not have a backbone. Instead, they use ions found in seawater to create their own limestone exoskeletons.

They’re also incredibly diverse! Scientists have catalogued close to 6,000 species of coral around the world. Each species is precisely adapted to its unique ocean environment: you’ll find coral colonies thriving everywhere from the warm coastal waters of The Bahamas to the frigid depths of the open ocean.

A Quarter of All Marine Species Live in Coral Reefs

Coral reefs may account for less than 1% of the seafloor by area, but they hold an outsized importance when it comes to maintaining the health of our oceans. One of the most significant ecosystem engineers in the world, coral colonies are home to more than 4,000 species of fish — that’s about a quarter of all marine life!

Corals are known for their symbiotic relationships. They create homes for reef-dwelling species, and even act as a sort of underwater nursery where juvenile marine life can be born, develop, and grow. Even their appearance is a result of symbiosis: though naturally clear or white in colour, corals get their eye-catching hues from the algae that grows in their polyps. White or “bleached” coral is actually a sign of a reef in distress, when rising ocean temperatures cause the corals to expel their algae — a striking reminder of the fragility of this delicate keystone species.

They Have Been Around Since Before the Dinosaurs

With such an important role in our ocean ecosystem, it’s unsurprising that corals have been around for a long time. Though their longevity varies by species, most coral reefs are between 5,000 and 10,000 years old, and individual corals can live for up to 5,000 years, making them the longest-living animals in the world.

In fact, coral as a species has been around since before the age of dinosaurs. Early corals first appeared sometime during the Cambrian period, about 540 to 485 million years ago. The oldest coral fossils date back to 535 million years ago (the oldest dinosaur fossil, by contrast, only dates to 243 million years ago).

They Keep Our Oceans Clean

It’s always better in The Bahamas, especially when it comes to our world-class beaches. Nassau & Paradise Island is known for sparkling turquoise waters so vibrant that astronauts can glimpse them from aboard the International Space Station. But when it comes to keeping Bahamian beaches beautiful for future generations, coral reefs have a crucial part to play.

Like sea sponges, corals are classified as filter feeders. These tiny creatures feed on small water-borne particles, filtering out toxins and contaminants, and enhancing the quality of the waters where they live. And nothing makes for better snorkelling or diving conditions than the pristine waters of a coral reef!

Whether you’re a first-time snorkeller or a seasoned diver, exploring the breathtaking coral reefs of The Bahamas is an unforgettable experience — and a great way to deepen your understanding of these vital ocean habitats. Planning a visit to our sunny shores? Be sure to add a reef diving or snorkelling tour to your itinerary, where you can take advantage of expert instruction and top-notch equipment for a once-in-a-lifetime underwater adventure.

They Help Prevent Shoreline Erosion

Ever wondered why they call them barrier reefs? Well as it turns out, barrier reefs are just that — barriers. These underwater habitats run parallel to the shoreline, protecting our shallow coastal waters from storm surges and the effects of erosion.

It’s an important job — especially when you consider the fact that about 80% of The Bahamas’ total landmass lies within 1.5 metres (five feet) of sea level. And with coral reefs increasingly under threat from everything from climate change and pollution to overfishing and rising ocean acidity, we all have a part to play in their protection.

On a mission to protect sea species and their extraordinary habitats, the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation helps to support this pivotal conservation work. Their research and reef restoration efforts include an on-property coral nursery program, which helps to grow coral polyps to replenish our island’s reefs. The best part? It’s all funded by proceeds from Atlantis Paradise Island’s marine experiences so that you can enjoy fun and educational programming in support of a worthy cause.

For an opportunity to immerse yourself in coral conservation efforts, join the Ocean Guardian Experience offered by Rosewood Baha Mar. This unique half-day offering begins with a boating adventure that whisks you away to the BREEF Underwater Sculpture Garden. At this site, commissioned by Sir John Nuttal, you can explore a coral nursery and discover vibrant marine life firsthand. After working up an appetite from all the underwater discovery, you’ll enjoy a sustainably crafted gourmet lunch. This delicious meal is crafted by the expert culinary team at Café Boulud The Bahamas, and is sure to hit the spot.  

Learn more about the Ocean Guardian Experience. 

Healthy Ocean, Healthy Planet

More than just an underwater marvel, coral reefs are essential to the well-being of our island, our oceans, and our planet. And in Nassau & Paradise Island, you can get up close and personal with these incredible habitats, while also supporting critical conservation programs here in The Bahamas.

Learn more about the sustainability initiatives that are helping to preserve our piece of Paradise for generations to come, and start planning an unbe-reef-able getaway to Nassau & Paradise Island.