PARIS, Feb 2: The search engine Google launched a new service on Monday to allow Internet users to explore the depths of the world’s oceans from the comfort of their homes on dry land.

The “Ocean in Google Earth” feature will allow users to “dive beneath the water surface, explore 3D underwater terrain and browse ocean-related content contributed by marine scientists,” a Google statement said.

“Google Earth is equipping itself with a new dimension: depth,” Jean-Francois Wassong, an engineer at Google France, told a news conference.

Nearly four years after Google Earth enabled users to zoom in to view streets, and later explore galaxies in the sky, the latest version of the software allows virtual travellers to dart across miles of unchartered territory underwater.

“Oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the planet’s surface but only a little bit has been explored,” said Florence Diss, head of Google’s geographical partnerships, referring to findings that humans have examined just five percent of world’s seas.

By allowing users to explore underwater volcanoes, hunt for whales and learn more about shipwrecks, Google says “Ocean in Google Earth” offers a platform for everyday Internet browsers to link up with the scientific community.

The feature includes 20 different layers of content contributed by leading ocean explorers, scientists and researchers, such as photos and videos of “hot spots” around the world and information on marine protected areas.

It also has an animal tracking device in which users can follow animals that have been tagged by satellite.—AFP