 The sanctuary was originally established for the purposes of resource protection, research and development, education and public use and is now the most researched body of water in the world.The Monterey Bay sanctuary contains America's largest kelp forest and one of the largest underwater canyons and closest-to-shore deep ocean environments in the world reaching over two miles in depth.Monterey Bay was recently featured in a documentary on BBC called 'Big Blue Live' which documented the wildlife success story and marine animal phenomenon currently taking place in Monterey Bay.