Google Maps gets Street View wet, explores coral reefs in Australia, Hawaii and the Philippines

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Unlike Google's challenges collecting images on terrestrial earth, its underwater exploits don't need to worry about litigious homeowners or governments angry that the company was also capturing Wi-Fi data.

Armchair tourists got one step closer to really never having to leave the house with today's launch of Google Map's underwater panoramic images for popular dive spots in Australia, Hawaii, and the Philippines. The Street View display allows users to navigate among the marine life and delicate reefs thanks to Google's custom-built cameras and some assistance from the Catlin Seaview Survey.

Considering this is Google it's quite a small set of entries, as if perhaps the search giant is just testing the waters. The set includes two maps each from Wilson Island, Heron Island, and Lady Elliot Island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef; Molokini Crater, Maui and Hanauma Bay, Oahu in Hawaii; and the Apo Islands in Dauin, Philippines.

Google's promotional video, below, takes the user from shore to reef:

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Google Maps gets Street View wet, explores coral reefs in Australia, Hawaii and the Philippines

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First read is on us.
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First read is on us.

Google Maps gets Street View wet, explores coral reefs in Australia, Hawaii and the Philippines

Skift Take

Up Next

How Data Quality Issues Impact Global Hospitality Operations

Religious Tourism: The Indian Travel Industry’s Next Big Bet

6 Travel Startups Raise $168 Million Over 2 Weeks: Funding Roundup

Vrbo Needles Airbnb in New Campaign: We're 'Hotter' and 'Cooler'

U.S. National Parks Had a Record Year. But There’s ‘No Public Announcement’ and Staffing Shortages

First read is on us.Subscribe to read more essential travel industry news.

First read is on us.
Subscribe to read more essential travel industry news.