The park contains banks of very rare corals, which form a reef round the islands with an area of 910sq.km/350sq.mi.

Within a marine preserve, the taking of aquatic animals is restricted. Unless specifically authorized, all types of fishing, shell collecting, the use of gaffs, and the removal of sand and rocks are prohibited in a preserve.

The Aldabra atoll and Valle de Mai are both unique nature reserves represent the rich natural heritage of Seychelles.

On a plateau of 5 to 25 ft (2 to 8 m) divers experience colored sponges, soft corals plus boulder and brain corals. Parrot fish, goat fish, wrasse, chromis and sometimes barracuda swim over the corals.

Two species of marine turtle, Green and Hawksbill regularly nest on Aride’s beaches. The island is becoming an increasingly important breeding site for the Hawksbill in the Western Indian Ocean.

Ashmore Reef lies at the western extremity of the Sahul Shelf where it is one of only three emergent reef systems. These biologically diverse platform reefs exhibit a high level of inter-dependency with adjacent ecosystems to the north and south.

It extends out to deep sea ecosystems at 3,000 m depth covering breeding grounds of the Southern Right whale, NZ sea lion and yellow-eyed penguin.

The reserve covers an area of about 484,000 ha in the Southern Ocean surrounding the Auckland Islands. It extends out to deep sea ecosystems at 3000m depth covering breeding grounds of the Southern Right whale, NZ sea lion and Yellow-eyed penguin.

Butting up against Mexico, Bacalar Chico Marine & Nature Reserve spans 105 square km (41 square mi) of land, reef, and sea.

One of Belize's newest reserves encompasses an area of sixty square kilometers. Accesible only by sea, Bacalar Chico Marine and Wildlife Reserve, is at the northern tip of Ambergris Caye overlooking the Bay of Chetumal and Mexico.