Through public awareness and education campaigns, combined with research, KWS helps local coastal communities to earn a livelihood in less damaging ways. Sub-aquatic viewing is one way of making the beautiful underwater world accessible to Kenyans and visitors. Enabling them to see for themselves just what is at stake will emphasise the need to protect the endangered species and allow more people to appreciate the beauty and wonders of Kenya's marine areas. Sub-aquatic viewing is a new concept for Kenya. Glass-bottomed boats skim the surface but offer no way of actually entering the marine world.
Scuba diving is expensive and appeals only to the expert enthusiast.
A submersible vessel is the real answer. To be operated by the local boat owners association, responsible to and under the supervision of KWS personnel, the vessel will allow close contact with the fragile underwater world, where through their own eyes people may experience the value of marine life. Over 75 per cent of Kenya's wildlife is contained outside protected areas. It is recognised that long-term conservation of wildlife will not succeed without full participation and involvement of local communities, with their needs and rights taken into account and addressed fully. The Kimana community wildlife Sanctuary is one of the first to benefit from this policy.