March 5, 2007—In the fledgling country of Timor-Leste (East Timor), pristine beaches and coral reefs stand in stark contrast to one of the poorest populations on Earth.

East Timor, located on a handful of islands in Southeast Asia, was the first new country of the 21st century, gaining independence only in 2002 (see a map of East Timor). But it is still recovering from decades of devastating occupation by neighboring Indonesia.

See firsthand the lure of some of the world's best preserved undersea environments, and learn how officials are striking a difficult and delicate balance between preserving the country's natural beauty and attracting desperately needed tourism.