Established in 1987, Hol Chan Marine Reserve encompasses a three square mile area of reef located of the southeast tip of the island of Ambergris Caye in Belize. There is a cut in the reef that allows transit between the shallow inshore area, and the deeper water beyond the barrier reef. Fish, everything from small fry to nurse sharks, congregate around this Hol Chan cut. Because the marine life is protected from fishing pressure, Hol Chan has become an increasingly popular spot for snorkeling and scuba diving in Belize.