Take a virtual tour of Tubbataha Reef with Google

It's not quite your usual Street View from Google, but you definitely can't argue with the breathtaking view.

 

Tubbataha Reef, considered one of the planet's most remarkable coral reefs, is now on Google's (Underwater) Street View, featuring images from The Catlin Seaview Survey.

 

Ryan Morales, country marketing manager for Google Philippines, said this is a fitting way to mark World Oceans Day last June 8.

 

"(W)e’re inviting you to dive into Tubbataha Reef and swim among some of the 374 species of corals, turtles, sharks and fish — all while staying dry," Morales said in a blog post.

 

"We hope that through this project, we can bring the beauty of these Philippine marine habitats to the world, and create a scientific record to enable marine biologists to monitor their changing health over time," he added.

 

He noted Tubbataha is one of the Philippines’ oldest ecosystems, and hosts many marine species as a 100-meter perpendicular wall of underwater wildlife.

 

Such circumstances prompted the UNESCO to name Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park a World Heritage Site, he said.

 

Apo islands

 

Morales said Tubbataha is the second Philippine site to join Google's Underwater Street View, after the Apo Islands.

 

He said The Catlin Seaview Survey team captured both sites using 360-degree panoramic SVII cameras. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News