Explore the depths of the Pacific Ocean from your desktop. Google, in partnership with XL Catlin Seaview Survey (NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the Chagos Conservation Trust), created underwater images of more than 40 locations around the world, including:
- Big Momma, American Samoa
- Fagatele Bay, American Samoa
- Tafeu Cove, American Samoa
- The Channel at Rose Atoll, American Samoa
- Humpback Whales, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
- PUE Coral Gardens, Cook Islands
- Black Rock Chimneys, Cook Islands
The virtual tour at Tafeu Cove within the National Park of American Samoa starts as a half-in / half-out then dives underwater to explore the reef: goo.gl/maps/VLKbCgf3DZK2
Tafeu Cove. Photo credit: Google Maps
Big Momma, American Samoa. Photo credit: Google Maps
A humpback whale in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Photo credit: Google Maps
The goal of the partnership was to bring to light the global devastation of coral reefs (over 40 percent has been lost over the past 30 years) with the hope that by visualizing the beauty and the damage, more people would be motivated to support conservation.