Google Street View goes underwater for #WorldOceansDay

Google Street View is good for a lot of things. You can search your own address and see if Google's cameras recorded anything exciting, like you taking out the trash or sitting on your porch. You can walk around the Giza pyramids, because why not. And now, you can explore some of the world's most spectacular underwater environments — and according to Google, you'll be helping protect the oceans at the same time.

Monday is World Oceans Day, and Google is celebrating with a Street View collection that lets you navigate the waters off the Galapagos, American Samoa, Bali, the Bahamas, and many other glorious places. You'll meet all your favorite marine friends — dolphins, whales, turtles, sharks — and you'll see lots of coral. Lots and lots of coral.

That's because Oceans Street View isn't just about beautiful, interactive photos of ocean life. It's about documenting environmental change. 

Coral reefs, for example, aren't just beautiful to look at. They sustain marine life, protect coastlines from erosion, and support economies that rely on fishing and tourism. Rising sea temperatures and acidification levels caused by climate change are destroying these reefs and the ecosystems surrounding them. Taking panoramic photos of underwater environments actually creates visual data points for tracking the effects of climate change (and pollution) on marine life.

"Mapping the ocean is key to preserving it," Google said in a blog post announcing the new collection. "Each image in Google Maps is a GPS-located digital record of these underwater and coastal environments, which can be used as a baseline to monitor change over time. This comprehensive record of coral reefs showcases the beauty of these ecosystems and highlights the threats they face, such as the impact of increasing storms in the Great Barrier Reef and of rising water temperatures, factors causing the reefs to bleach white."

Much of the imagery comes courtesy of Google's four-year partnership with XL Catlin Seaview Survey, a conservation project that, according to its website, is "creating a baseline record of the world’s coral reefs, in high-resolution 360-degree panoramic vision." They do that using this fancy camera:

Google's ocean project is ongoing. The release of Oceans Street View also came with news that Google was establishing new partnerships with other organizations committed to studying, understanding, and conserving oceans, including the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Reef Check, and others. 

Check out one of the underwater environments below.