Image via Google Views
Google would very much like to direct your attention to this planet's collection of gorgeous oceans.
The company that makes it so easy to query things like "What was that one movie with Stanley Tucci?" is making the world's enormous oceans a bit more accessible with a new Street View (h/t Good).
Although, calling this project a romp around the world's streets is a huge misnomer, because these images are all found underwater. They just merely utilize a similar technology that has been making infrastructure snooping a joy for years.
Here is a brief video on the project that aims to not only allow basic discovery but to also harness understanding and nurture conservation for these vital portions of our planet:
If you have a few minutes to play around with, you can travel around the world at Google's "Ocean" portion of its Views website.
The very first image above reflects a scene off the coast of Vila dos Remedios. The caption explains, "Pedras Secas is one of the iconic dive sites of Fernando de Noronha. It's an impressive dive site that attracts a lot of marine life. The volcanic rocks provide an arena-like formation that is surrounded by passages, holes, caverns, an iconic main arch and a 60 foot 'swim through' tunnel."
This is just one scene of myriad all across the world, including those that captivate swimmers and deep divers in places like the Philippines, Australia, Hawaii and India.
Seeing the beauty is just one way Google hopes to bring oceanic conservation to the forefront.
A great deal more information on the project announced for World Oceans Day can be found at the Google Blog: "Today, in time for World Oceans Day on June 8, and in partnership with XL Catlin Seaview Survey, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the Chagos Conservation Trust, you can explore brand new Street View imagery of more than 40 locations around the world, including the American Samoa and Chagos Islands and underwater dives in Bali, the Bahamas and the Great Barrier Reef. We hope the release of this imagery inspires people to learn more about this precious natural resource."
Now this isn't the first time Google has fiddled with the now classic Street View, because we previously reported on Sounds of Street View, which added a whole other layer to what was an already fantastic product.
In the case of Oceans, the previously exotic world of the planet's watery chasms is just a few clicks away.
Now this is hardly a replacement for seeing and experiencing the real thing. But perhaps it sparks an interest that leads to travel or, hopefully, a need to save the resource.
And that is at the heart of what is a brilliant and gorgeous project.
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