by Jason Bennee | Mar 2, 2017 | Google Street View
This year I have been working on the coral reefs around Okinawa in Japan. These waters contain the oldest and largest reefs in the Northern Hemisphere. This area has experienced some of the most devastating effects of climate change which has accelerated coral bleaching. This coral plantation at Yamada Point was built by local fishermen and is now the largest man-made coral field at over 2.5 hectares. These images are a result of a collaboration between Panedia, Google, The Ocean Agency and the XL Catlin Seaview Survey. Although I don’t do the Photography I always enjoy working on these beautiful...
by Jason Bennee | Sep 22, 2016 | Google Street View
This is the “Big Mushroom” coral off the Taiwanese coast. It was considered one of the worlds most iconic dive sites. Despite surviving being struck twice by submarines this 1000 year old life form was finally toppled by Typhoon Meranti recently. You can still experience this 12 metre high coral structure in all its glory thanks to this virtual dive we published in June. These images are a result of a collaboration between Panedia, Google, The Ocean Agency and the XL Catlin Seaview Survey. Although I don’t do the Photography I always enjoy working on these beautiful...
by Jason Bennee | Aug 15, 2016 | Google Street View
These are the waters around the Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesia. This area has the highest density of marine life in the world. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest coral reef system but it is relatively young compared to this one. The diversity of life here is helped by being uniquely placed between the Indian and Pacific oceans and three continental plates. These images are a result of a collaboration between Panedia, Google, The Ocean Agency and the XL Catlin Seaview Survey. This project takes up most of my working week, although I don’t do the Photography, I have a lot of fun working on these beautiful images in...
by Sandra Mexa | Jun 29, 2015 | Google Street View
Botany Bay was the site of Captain James Cook’s first landing of the HMS Endeavour on the continent of Australia in 1770. They called the site “Stingray Bay” originally as the area was so full of the creatures. Bare Island is found on the northern edge of Botany Bay – while you won’t find any stingrays on this virtual dive you might be able to spot a tiny, bright nudibranch. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | Jun 22, 2015 | Google Street View
Camp Cove is often the first place people learn to dive in Sydney. A gentle shore entry leads out into a rocky wall that is home to some of Sydney Harbour’s strangest marine creatures. See what you can find on this virtual dive. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | Jun 10, 2015 | Google Street View
Its true name is “Fale Bommie” (in honor of Fale Tuilagi who discovered it), but “Big Momma” is the nickname local divers have given this huge Porites coral, which may well be the largest coral on the planet. It is 41 metres in circumference and 7 metres high. This type of coral grows very slowly, as little as 1 centimetre a year, which means that this coral is over 500 years old! Big Momma is located in the aptly named “Valley of the Giants” within the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Image collect by Catlin Seaview Survey. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | May 26, 2015 | Google Street View
The whole 2 million square kilometre exclusive economic zone of the Cook Islands is a designated whale sanctuary. During May and October every year the Humpback Whales arrive in the Cook Islands. They are migrating north to South Pacific waters from their summer feeding grounds of Australia, New Zealand, and the cool Antarctic Ocean. They use these warmer waters to mate, give birth and to rest. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | May 4, 2015 | Google Street View
Explore the surface and dive underwater in the freshwater lake of Loch Ness. Take in its haunting beauty, made darker still by the peat particles found in its waters, and let the rippling water, tricks of the light, and drifting logs bring the legend of Nessie to life. Another partnership project with Catlin Seaview Survey and Google Oceans. Can be seen here in Google Street...
by Sandra Mexa | Apr 12, 2015 | Google Street View
Translating to “thirty kings”, Trinta Reis is another spectacular dive in Fernando de Noronha which combines volcanic rock flows and white sandy bottoms. The volcanic rock structures provide habitat and protection for schooling fish, turtles and rays. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | Mar 25, 2015 | Google Street View
Shelley Beach is a protected marine area (part of Cabbage Tree Bay) which was declared a “No Take” Aquatic Reserve in 2002. Since being listed as a protected area local scuba divers and snorklers say they are seeing an increase in marine creatures here – a great observation. Image collect by Catlin Seaview Survey. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | Mar 15, 2015 | Google Street View
Manly is another famous Sydney beach (this one is on the northern side of the Harbour) with a great underwater environment. The Fairy Bower sits between Manly Beach and North Head, and it’s a great place to see Dusky Whaler sharks. Image collect Catlin Seaview Survey. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | Feb 24, 2015 | Google Street View
The Grey Nurse Shark is the world’s most menacing yet harmless shark. Although they grow to be rather large and have rows and rows of razor sharp teeth they’re not considered dangerous to humans – they’re rather docile. They breed off the coast of Maroubra and provide a real thrill for scuba divers. Image collect by Catlin Seaview Survey. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | Oct 28, 2014 | Google Street View
In partnership with Catlin Seaview Survey we released another set of stunning underwater images from beautiful reefs in Hawaii coast. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | Oct 14, 2014 | Google Street View
The Florida International University manages the Aquarius Reefbase which is an underwater habitat used by marine biologists and astronauts for training and study purposes. In August 2014 the Catlin Seaview Survey team visited the Reefbase while surveying the reefs around the Florida Keys. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | Sep 27, 2014 | Google Street View
We just uploaded our Vivid Sydney Virtual Tour to Google Views. The constellation includes 31 panoramas of this great show of light in the main attractions and buildings of Sydney. We had previously published a constellation of Sydney Opera House images during this festival so we decided now to extend that with images of the rest of the city. Panedia Google Street...
by Sandra Mexa | Aug 5, 2014 | Google Street View
There are 3 “Christ of the Abyss” statues currently sitting beneath the surface of the sea, this “American Christ” is the third and most recent in the set of bronze statues. It’s located in the waters off Key Largo, Florida and was cast from the same mould as the original statue. Florida’s “Christ of the Abyss” weighs 260kg but is secured to 9 tonnes of concrete – it’s been here since 1965. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | Aug 2, 2014 | Google Street View
We added 6 new constellations to Google Views on the theme Japan. With a total of 124 panoramas this virtual tour gives a good perspective over several Japan locations. Panedia Google Street...
by Sandra Mexa | Jul 25, 2014 | Google Street View
In this constellation from Alcatraz we decided for the first time to add some informational content to our usual photographic coverage. This adds a lot of interest to “The Rock” virtual tour since we to tell a bit of the history and stories behind the...
by Sandra Mexa | Jul 23, 2014 | Google Street View
We surveyed the world-famous Sydney Harbour in March 2014 in partnership with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science. The waters around North Head are teeming with life. Check out the Port Jackson Sharks in the bright green weed in these panoramas. Can be seen here in Google...
by Sandra Mexa | Jul 21, 2014 | Google Street View
Los Angeles is well know by Hollywood movie sets, studios and of course, movie stars. On this constellation now posted on Google Views, we show a bit of the other side the second most populous city in the US, beyond the film industry tag. Panedia Google Street...
