Google unveils first-ever underwater “street-view” (and it’s amazing)

Take that, Apple Maps.

Google just unveiled underwater “street views” of the world’s most popular undersea destinations: the Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii’s Hanauma Bay, and Apo Island in the Philippines. And the amazing views are available in glorious 1080P high-definition.

Here’s a quick peek:

To get the images, Google partnered with the Caitlin Seaview Survey, which used a specialized SVII camera to capture the images. Every three seconds while traveling at about 2.5 miles/hour, the camera captures a 360-degree panorama with geolocation information and a compass heading. Only two of the cameras are in existence worldwide.

Google recently added more building interior views and views of the Amazon. This latest release, coming on the heels of allegations that Apple’s mapping woes stem from a lack of data, is not likely to be well-received at One Infinite Loop. But let’s face facts: Google has been mapping the world for years.

This is not something Apple can catch up on overnight.

Image credit: Google