Thread: Types of Caribbean beaches- White, Pink & Black

Types of Caribbean Beaches - White, Pink & Black

Caribbean Beaches are known throughout the world for their Pink sand, White powder, Exotic Black sand, and warm, azzure waters. Most beach lovers desire nothing more than to spend lazy days at their favorite beach destination. Here is a quick overview of the different types of sand you can find in the Caribbean.

Caribbean White Sand/Coral Beaches
Where does white coral sand originate? Believe it or not, from a colorful Parrot Fish! The Parrot fish use their beaks to scrape off coral rock and food. The fish digest algae or living corals and expel the inorganic compounds as fine white sand. One fish can produce tons of soft white sand each year.

Coral Sand - Close-Up

More about Coral Sand: Coral sand is sand of particles originating in tropical and sub-tropical marine environments from bioerosion of limestone skeletal material of marine organisms. One example of this process is that of parrot fishes which bite off pieces of coral, digest the living tissue, and excrete the inorganic component as silt and sand. However, the term "coral" in coral sand is used loosely in this sense to mean limestone of recent biological origin; corals are not the dominant contributors of sand particles to most such deposits. Rather, remnant skeletal fragments of foraminifera, calcareous algae, molluscs, and crustaceans can predominate. Because it is composed of limestone, coral sand is acid-soluble.
Caribbean Pink Sand Beaches
Pink Sand is the result of the red shells of tiny sea creatures called "foraminifera". These tiny creatures live beneath rocks and inside caves. Their red shells are broken up by the surf into fine, soft pink colored sand. Harbour Island, Bahamas is famous for its pink sand beaches which completely encircle the island. Bermuda's legendary pink-sand beaches are also well known.

Pink Sand

Caribbean Black Sand Beaches
Formed when hot lava flows into the Caribbean Sea, and breaks into black sand pieces which eventually flows back to the shore. The texture of black sand is course, unlike white sand or pink sand beaches. Volcanic black sand beaches of the Caribbean's volcanic islands include: St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, Nevis, St. Kitts and Montserrat.

Black Sand Beach - Balenbouche Bay on Saint Lucia

Types of Caribbean Beaches - White, Pink & Black :: Caribbean :: CaribbeanMag.

VERY informative! Thanks Charlene!

Very pretty beach pictures...I like to find out how the sand gets to be different colors too. THanks!

This was very interesting. Thanks for sharing!