A large roughtail stingray, Dasyatis centroura, lays on the seagrass-covered seafloor of Turneffe Atoll off the coast of Belize. This reef is part of the massive Mesoamerican Reef System in the Caribbean Sea, the second largest barrier reef on Earth.

A beautiful coral reef, dominated by colorful gorgonians, grows along the edge of the Blue Hole in Lighthouse Reef in the Caribbean Sea. This reef is part of the massive Mesoamerican Reef System, the second largest barrier reef on Earth.

A beautiful coral reef, dominated by colorful gorgonians, grows along the edge of the Blue Hole in Lighthouse Reef in the Caribbean Sea. This reef is part of the massive Mesoamerican Reef System, the second largest barrier reef on Earth.

Fast-growing staghorn coral fragments, Acropora sp., are being grown in hopes of replanting colonies in reef areas of the Caribbean Sea that have been damaged.

A large roughtail stingray, Dasyatis centroura, lays on the seagrass-covered seafloor of Turneffe Atoll off the coast of Belize. This reef is part of the massive Mesoamerican Reef System in the Caribbean Sea, the second largest barrier reef on Earth.

A colorful queen conch, Strombus gigas, lies on the seagrass-covered seafloor of Turneffe Atoll in Belize. Conchs are an important marine resource as they are sought for food.

A beautiful coral reef, dominated by colorful gorgonians, grows along the edge of Turneffe Atoll in the Caribbean Sea. This reef is part of the massive Mesoamerican Reef System, the second largest barrier reef on Earth.

Sign warning against feeding sharks, Half Moon Caye, Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Belize

A colorful West Indian starfish, Oreaster reticulatus, crawls over a shallow, sandy seafloor in Turneffe Atoll in the Caribbean Sea. This reef is part of the massive Mesoamerican Reef System, the second largest barrier reef on Earth.

A colorful West Indian starfish, Oreaster reticulatus, crawls over a shallow, sandy seafloor in Turneffe Atoll in the Caribbean Sea. This reef is part of the massive Mesoamerican Reef System, the second largest barrier reef on Earth.

A well-camouflaged yellow stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis, swims over a shallow seagrass meadow growing within Turneffe Atoll's lagoon in the Caribbean Sea. This reef is part of the massive Mesoamerican Reef System, the second largest barrier reef on Earth

Underwater view of of the reef system at Half Moon Caye, UNESCO, Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Belize

Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), underwater at Half Moon Caye, UNESCO, Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Belize

Caribbean land hermit crab (Coenobita clypeatus), Half Moon Caye, UNESCO, Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Belize

Underwater view of of the reef system at Half Moon Caye, UNESCO, Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Belize

Caribbean land hermit crab (Coenobita clypeatus), Half Moon Caye, UNESCO, Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Belize

An adult anole from the Genus Anolis, Half Moon Caye, inside the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Belize

Booby bird reserve, Half Moon Caye, Belize, Central America

Spotted Eagle Rays (Aetobatus narinari) with Live Sharksuckers (Echeneis naucrates) swimming above a coral reef with sandbanks and White Mullet (Mugil curema) near the surface, Half Moon Caye, Lighthouse Reef, Turneffe Atoll, Belize, Central America, Cari

Scuba diving group swimming from the diving boat above a sandy seabed to a coral reef, Half Moon Caye, Lighthouse Reef, Turneffe Atoll, Belize, Central America, Caribbean

Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari) from above with dotted markings, Live Sharksuckers (Echeneis naucrates) above a coral reef with sandbanks, Half Moon Caye, Lighthouse Reef, Turneffe Atoll, Belize, Central America, Caribbean