That's because a check of reefs as part of the Earth Day activities
organised by the Barbados Marine Trust turned up evidence of a reduction in
the environmental woes which normally dog the ocean - in addition to the
re-appearance of almost-extinct coral.
"There was less anchor damage, less pollution, and less garbage, but there is still room for improvement," said André Miller of the Coastal Zone Management Unit. He also said the findings had shown that awareness about the marine environment had definitely increased.
Marine scientist Renata Goodridge of the Natural Resource Management Department of the University of the West Indies said the trust had observed an abundance and diversity of fish on the West Coast, but the biggest and most pleasant find was the return of a once common species of coral.
Crops of the Acropora palmata (elkhorn coral), lost some years ago due to disease, was found on the reefs just off Church Point, St James.
In Carlisle Bay, divers found more seahorses, and such an abundance of reef fish that it was almost impossible to count them during the survey. A lot more
sea grass pastures (turtle food) were found as well as more turtles, which are an endangered species.
However, there were signs of "nutrient loading" in Carlisle Bay as well as on the West Coast where algae were seen growing on reefs. The source of nutrients could be either sewage or fertilisers.
In Oistins, some damage was noticed to a beautiful and otherwise healthy reef, said Goodridge.
Miller said one of the recommendations coming out of the exercise would be to encourage Oistins fishermen to place their fishing pots next to the patch reef on the sandy bottom, where they could also trap just as many fish rather than dropping the pots on the delicate corals.
The exercise was carried out by about 40 volunteer divers, mainly University of the West Indies students and members of the Mauby Divers.
Underwater Barbados provided free gear for volunteers and free use of their boat.