Belize offers numerous advantages for those who enjoy aquatic adventures including boating, fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling on one of the largest reefs in the western hemisphere. Originally part of the British Empire, Belize shares a common colonial history with other Anglophone Caribbean countries. From 1862 to 1973, its name was British Honduras. It became an independent Commonwealth realm in 1981, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.