Located in the southeastern corner of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, the easternmost of the three atolls of Belize, the Crescent National Monument was the first nature reserve declared to be an inviolable zone under the National Parks Act of 1981. Run by the Belizean Audubon Society, this 44-acre part of the island is a home for nesting birds and a great place to set up a camp or organize a picnic between dives. In the ocean waters surrounding the crescent reef - rich marine life. Snorkelers can admire the beautiful coral site off the west bank of the Crescent Reef. More than 98 species of birds, most of which reside on other islands, have been spotted here, including species such as Frigate, Osprey, Songbird Mangrove and White Crowned Pigeons. The Crescent Reef is also an important site for reptile conservation, supporting a small population of the local lizard species.