Richard Branson And Google To Map Ocean Floor

Backed by an impressive team of scientists and explorers, Branson aims to “collate data and catalogue life forms that will never have been seen before by human eyes and are unknown to science”, according to a blog post he wrote to coincide with the launch. The Virgin Oceanic submarine he’ll pilot uses ‘flying wings’ to propel it downward, mirroring the way dolphins and rays swim.

Branson also hopes to improve our collective knowledge of the ocean floor: he’s partnering with Google, who will stream his dives on Google Maps. Images and video from the voyages will be added to Google Earth’s interactive map of the world, providing what Virgin calls “previously unachievable detail and documentation of one of the most unexplored areas of Earth.”

A world full of undiscovered species and for those who dream, a world where Spanish galleons have lain unplundered for centuries!”

Below is a depth chart showing the submarine’s proposed voyage.