Bahamas and Turks are washed by Atlantic Ocean. These territories are accepted as part of the Caribbean.

Barbados is the primary Caribbean nation that is technically not "washed" by the Caribbean Sea, as it is situated entirely within the Atlantic Ocean. Geographically located about 100 miles (160 km) east of the Lesser Antilles island chain, Barbados sits in a lonely position as the easternmost island in the region. While it is culturally, historically, and politically considered a core part of the "Caribbean," its shores face the open Atlantic on all sides. The island's eastern coast is famous for its rugged cliffs and powerful Atlantic rollers, making it a world-class destination for surfing, while the calmer western "Platinum Coast" offers the turquoise waters typically associated with the region, even though those waters are technically Atlantic. Another interesting case is the Bahamas, which is also located entirely in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Caribbean Sea, but Barbados remains the most distinct example of a "Caribbean" country geographically isolated from the sea that bears the region's name. This isolation is due to its unique geological origin as a coral limestone outcropping rather than a volcanic island.