The Animal Flower Cave in Barbados is located under the cliffs at the Northern tip of the island. The website says the cave is “an interesting study in geology, local history and stunning sea activity.” I have to agree whole heatedly with the “stunning sea activity”. Often the eastern part of Barbados is described as rugged with stunning views and I have to say this area tops the eastern coast.
The Animal Flower Cave is the island’s only accessible sea-cave and was discovered from the sea in 1780 by two English explorers. Out tour guide, Don, told us that the cave’s coral floor is estimated to be 400,000 years old and the ceiling is 130,000 years old.
Twenty-seven tall coral steps leading down into the cave were hand cut. Down in the cave there were, at one time, sea-anemones, locally called ‘animal flowers’, the creature for whom the place is named. Now, there aren’t so many. In fact, we saw just two. The flower consists of tentacles that retract into the stalk for safety reasons. The flower then waits a while before coming out of the stalk again.
Twenty-seven tall steps into the sea-cave.
The swimming pool is in an adjoining cave. The totally transparent, cool, and absolutely still water was quite refreshing. And the views throughout the cave openings are stunning. At least once the waves were big enough for some water to come into the swimming pool. At certain times of the year and in bad weather the caverns become filled with water and the entrance acts like a giant blowhole, sometimes blowing the entrance door off and out into the parking lot.
On the way to the swimming cave
The views of the Atlantic and the Caribbean joining and crashing against the island are really the star of the show here, and swimming in a sea cave was a new experience for me.
View from inside the sea cave
Sitting on the edge…this photo is for you Dad!!