Go Virtual Snorkelling With Google Maps October 5, 2012 by lukesheppard

Exciting news for snorkelers and divers is Google Maps’ new 3-D ocean-level street view. A privately funded ocean survey has helped to add 50,000 underwater panoramic images to Google Maps. This means that if you have a computer, smartphone or iPad and an internet connection, you can “virtually” dive with all kinds of fabulous sea creatures and in amazing snorkel spots across the world.

As snorkelling enthusiast and vice president of Google Maps and Earth, Brian McClendon, says: “Now, anyone can become the next virtual Jacques Cousteau and dive with sea turtles, fish and manta rays in Australia, the Philippines and Hawaii.” On his blog, Brian added: “Today we’re launching the very first underwater panoramic images to Google Maps, the next step in our quest to provide people with the most comprehensive, accurate and usable map of the world. “With these vibrant and stunning photos you don’t have to be a scuba diver – or even know how to swim – to explore and experience six of the ocean’s most incredible living coral reefs.” You can use the Google Maps technology to find, for example, a sea turtle swimming among a school of fish, follow a manta ray and experience the reef at sunset. Other Google Street View sights:

• Apo Island, a volcanic island and marine reserve in the Philippines
• In the Pacific, in Hawaii, join snorkellers in Oahu’s Hanauma Bay
• Drift over the vast coral reef at Maui’s Molokini crater.

Google Maps has partnered with The Catlin Seaview Survey, a major scientific study of the world’s reefs, to bring the images to millions of people through the Street View feature of Google Maps. The Catlin Seaview Survey used a specially designed underwater camera, the SVII, to capture the photos. Google already has a stunning suite of exclusive Street View imagery featuring locales that are out of reach for many due to experience and cost, such as the Amazon basin and Antarctica. And now this sea-level viewing innovation brings the world’s most amazing snorkelling places right under your nose. Go take a look for yourself and imagine how great it would be to snorkel at these spots.