After Google Earth comes Google Ocean, a new search engine that allows internet users to explore the depths of the underwater world from the dry comfort of their homes.

This latest addition was simultaneously launched by EU Maritime Affairs Commissioner Joe Borg in Brussels and former US Vice President Al Gore in San Francisco on Monday.

Ocean is a new feature in Google Earth enabling users to explore 3D underwater terrain and browse ocean-related content contributed by marine scientists.

Users can explore some of the most difficult-to-reach parts of the world. Virtual travellers can swim around underwater volcanoes, watch videos about exotic marine life, read about nearby shipwrecks and contribute photos and videos of favourite surf and dive spots.

The floor of the Irish Sea, the hulks of sunken ships and examples of Europe's diminishing range of fish species are now available to the internet surfer, courtesy of this latest initiative by internet giant Google to map the globe and by the European Commission's own efforts to chart Europe's seas. Dr Borg told journalists that Google Ocean and several of the EU's own, smaller-scale projects would "help people to understand and appreciate more the wonderful yet fragile marine world that surrounds us".

Some of the information on Google Ocean is provided by the Commission through a €4.25 million project run by the EU to map the seabed in European waters, known as the European Marine Observation and Data Network (Emodnet).

The Commission also intends to produce an internet-based European Atlas of the Sea, which will be available later this year.

Dr Borg said these projects were complementary to Google Ocean and EU policymakers would be able to use Google's window on the oceans to better understand, safeguard and make better use of the ocean's resources.

He called on EU member states to collect more data, noting that the Commission had detailed data for some seas, such as the sea around Ireland, but poor data for others, such as the Mediterranean.