Google is taking virtual reality to another level by bringing underwater panoramic images of the Great Barrier Reef to Google Maps. Now, anyone can dive into the world's deepest oceans and swim with the manta rays and sea turtles in Australia, Philippines, and Hawaii or even experience the Barrier Reef at sun down - virtually.

Earlier, Google surveyed ancient ruins and Arctic villages and now the Street View team has expanded its reach to the world's oceans.

On Sept. 26, Google's official blog noted that the company was adding the first underwater panoramic images to Google Maps, in a bid to continue providing people with an accurate, comprehensive, and usable world map. The initiative would enable people to explore the rich ocean life and at the same time would allow researchers and marine biologists to study the world's coral reefs.

"We want to be a comprehensive source for imagery that lets anyone explore anywhere," Jenifer Foulkes, Google's ocean programme manager, told BBC.

Google's underwater project is in collaboration with the Catlin Seaview Survey, which researches on the world's coral reefs. The Street View feature will make available the images taken by a specially-designed underwater camera - the SVII - to millions of people via Google Maps.

A team of marine biologists captured 360-degree photographs of the Great Barrier Reef with the SVII underwater camera. The SVII is equipped with three wide-angle lenses and the camera can click one 24-megapixel photograph every four seconds with each lens. The camera also has a depth range of 100 meters.

"With these vibrant and stunning photos you don't have to be a scuba diver-or even know how to swim-to explore and experience six of the ocean's most incredible living coral reefs," stated Brian McClendon, VP of Google Maps and Earth, on the official Google blog post.

Apart from the Great Barrier Reef, Google also photographed the Molokini Crater and Hanauma Bay in Hawaii. Images of reefs off the volcanic Apo Island in Philippines were also captured. The company intends on adding underwater images from Bermuda in the near future.

"It's about creating a global reef record - something that has been missing and something that is very much needed. We simply don't have historical records to monitor change on a broad scale," said project director Richard Vevers. "Scientists from around the world will now be able to study reefs remotely and very clearly see how they are changing."

The images of exotic fish, sea turtles, and other marine life can be viewed here.