An elkhorn barrier reef with a marked snorkelling trail through it, grottoes on the reef's outer face, turtles nesting on the…An elkhorn barrier reef with a marked snorkelling trail through it, grottoes on the reef's outer face, turtles nesting on the beaches, and a lagoon shallow enough to read from the deck. Buck Island Reef was declared a national monument by Kennedy in 1961 and expanded in 2001, one of the first marine protected areas in the United States. The elkhorn suffered badly from disease and bleaching, and the recovery is closely monitored. Anchorage: Moor or anchor on sand off the west end. Buck Island is a day sail from Christiansted and the only US national monument that is mostly underwater. Hazards: The barrier reef is protected, no anchoring on coral, and the east end is exposed. Plus