Panoramic images of several coral reefs have been added to Google's Street View service in its maps, allowing users to navigate their way around the sites.

The material was gathered by the Catlin Seaview Survey - a project studying the health of the reefs, including the impact of global warming.

The programme's director said the effort would help scientists analyse ecosystems and raise general awareness.

Google's Street View Now Has Coral Reef Maps [bbc.co.uk]