BARRIER REEF EXPEDITION
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine Nolan
All great divers and snorkelers are incredibly drawn to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, a true ecosystem experience. It’s the world’s largest coral reef system which is composed of 2,900+ individual reefs and 900 islands.
The marine life and living organisms that call the Great Barrier Reef their home are so diverse and so different that many label this one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Thirty species of whales, dolphins and porpoises have been seen along with the dwarf minke whale, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and humpback whale. Sea turtles come to breed here and around 125 species of shark and stingray live on the reef.
Now Google’s Street View is assisting a scientific research group to broadcast images of an unprecedented, robot-enabled expedition to this underwater area. This research project will be called the Catlin Seaview Survey.
Those who are intrigued with this project will be able to see a 360-degree view of the reef from the surface all the way down to depths beyond 300 feet. Some of the images will be broadcast live on Google’s social network, Google +.
Thousands of “360-degree underwater panoramas will allow viewers to choose a location, dip underwater and even go for a virtual dive.” This is all part of the newly formed expedition.
There is a decisive purpose to this expedition. It will drive public awareness and increase scientific understanding of the reef and the huge threat of climate change. This will give scientists a baseline in order to study how the increasingly warm temperatures will affect one of nature’s greatest wonders.
To find out more information, go to www.catlinseaviewsurvey.com. Also in the works and beginning in September will be a ‘YouTube’ channel developed by Google which will host videos from the expeditions. Catlin, an insurance company, is sponsoring the project in collaboration with the non-profit Underwater Earth. A researcher from the University of Queensland is “chief scientist” on this effort.
This is a true pioneer project, both exciting and enthralling. It is a step in the right direction for both the reef and the planet. We look forward to the results and suggestions that come of this important program.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CATLIN SEAVIEW SURVEY
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