Google opens up the oceans

Google Maps has applied its Street View technology, which involves interactive, 360-degree viewing of scenes, to the underwater world.

It has kicked off with three cracking examples to illustrate the system’s potential.

Available are underwater tours of the islands of Heron, Lady Elliot and Wilson on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef; Apo Island in the Philippines; and Hawaii’s Hanauma Bay and Molokini Crater.

Just as users view, say, a residential address, so can they move around a marine site like a virtual scuba diver and zoom in or out from given objects.

With good filming conditions, the view can range from a broad vista to an item as small as a seahorse.

Google worked with Australia’s Catlin Seaview Survey to capture the footage required for the first postings.

With time, film-making researchers will provide the necessary footage for computerised imaging of marine settings all over the world.

The inaugural views can be accessed via www.maps.google.com/ocean.