Lovers of Jeju and its surrounding waters can now enjoy the underwater scenery around Jeju Island at home through their computers.

The Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency (KHOA), part of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, has launched an underwater "street view" photo service that allows for the virtual exploration of the underwater Jeju coast. The pictures are available through web browsers at http://www.khoa.go.kr/seaVr/vr.html?type=type0.

Underwater scenery of smaller islands, such as Munseom Island, Biyangdo Island, Seogeondo Island and Moseulpo Harbor near the main island of Jeju, are available there. The coral reef on the ocean floor at Munseom Island and a sunken ship now covered with sea weed and coral at Biyangdo Ilsand, are some of the more memorable sights to see online.

This is the first time for such underwater "street view" photos to be available in Korea.



The KHOA will provide its underwater photos to major web portals such as Naver, and expand its number of underwater images to include Ulleungdo Island in the East Sea and Ieodo Island in the South Sea.

Launching the service, the agency has shown its expectation that its photographs and images will encourage underwater tourism and scuba-related activities in the future.

By Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: KHOA homepage
icchang@korea.kr