Google Under the Sea

As if Google couldn't get any better, it sure has. Google maps has been helping people map out their destinations for a while. Street view imagery has been especially helpful for getting a feel for areas with whom we are not familiar with. By showing us a front view photo of the exact location, the street views display more than a GPS or map would. With the street view imagery now come underwater street views. 

 

Australian reefs, the Philippines, Hawaii, the coast of Bermuda and Monaco, and the Galapagos Islands are amongst the first places to have actual photos of their underwater locations. Spots around Cancun and Isla Mujeres have recently been added to the collection. With the slow addition to the gallery, we can expect street view for under the sea to take a few years before it's more efficient. 

Why is it taking so long for Google to have these views available? The reason this is such a lengthy process is because of the work it takes to put these images together. Each new location requires a diving team with special cameras to take pictures. Depending on the place, each shoot can have as many as 50,000 images per area. So clearly, timing and planning must all be scheduled properly before any photographs can be processed. 

 

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