Google Maps with Virtually Dive Feature

Google Maps with Virtually Dive Feature. Google has launched an online mapping service that enables users to virtually dive to explore the coral reefs on the ocean floor was surveyed by scientists.

Panoramic photos of the underwater added to Google Maps through the aid of a scientific expedition Survey Catlin Sea, in the hope that the underwater photo at close range will inspire people to protect it.

"This is the critical decade for coral reefs," said project director Catlin Richard Vevers told AFP on Wednesday (26/9) at the reef mapping project shows Google.

"We need to document them as quickly as we can and involve a lot of people to stop the damage, the current level is very worrying."

A small team of divers Catlin uses a special camera to capture panoramic photos are linked on Google Maps and Street View online photo gallery that allows people to swim together without being wet.

"The pictures are beautiful and dynamic, you do not need to be a diver or even know how to swim to explore coral reefs six most amazing sea," said vice president of Google Maps and Earth Brian McClendon.

"Today, anyone can be the next Jacques Cousteau in the virtual world and dive with turtles, fish and manta rays in Australia, the Philippines and Hawaii."

Location underwater described including the Great Barrier Reef, Molokini Crater and Apo Island marine sanctuary.

"We have published the photographs on seven continents, in the Amazon and the Arctic," said program manager Jenifer Austin Foulkes Google Oceans.

A canal in the Google+ social network devoted to Catlin expedition, which has the potential to discover new species of sea creatures during the phase of "coral reef", and has attracted some 1.4 million followers.

Underwater photographs can be seen in the virtual world at maps.google.com/ocean.

"These projects can involve many people," says Vevers.

"We need to bridge the gap between scientific understanding and public awareness. We need people to be able to dive into the sea. "

source : Voaindonesia.com