Thanks to 360-degree technology, every diver can now enjoy the world beneath the waves at five of NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuaries. The organization just launched a virtual dive gallery that lets viewers virtually explore American Samoa, Florida Keys, Flower Garden Banks, Gray's Reef and Thunder Bay from smartphones, tablets or personal computers. Click on the photos below to view the 360 virtual-reality experience for each site.

The Sanctuary Virtual Dive Gallery shows the national marine sanctuaries from the perspective of a scuba diver, and you can explore the sites in a virtual-reality experience to feel as though you’re there yourself. In a news release, NOAA said the virtual experience helps highlight not only the beauty of the underwater world, but also what the organization is doing to monitor issues such as marine debris, ocean noise, invasive species, and changes in habitat and animal health.

"Because such a small percentage of people in the U.S. are able to scuba dive, we constantly face the challenge of showcasing the underwater beauty and wonders of national marine sanctuaries," says Mitchell Tartt, chief of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries' Conservation Science Division. "These virtual dives are incredibly engaging and truly provide unique experiences that anyone with internet access can enjoy. They are game changers in helping the public and our partners better understand these places."

The 360-image project started in 2014, when NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries started working with the XL Catlin Seaview Survey project, which is a privately funded effort to address the health of coral reefs worldwide. From 2014 to 2016, divers collected images of nine sanctuary sites, and NOAA is still working with The Ocean Agency to make these amazing images.

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries says it will continue to add dive sites, including the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale, Monterey Bay, Stellwagen Bank, Channel Islands, and Olympic Coast national marine sanctuaries and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa’s gallery features eight images of five dive sites including Tafeu Cove and Airport Pool.
Click the photo to see the 360-degree images.

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's gallery includes five dive sites such as the Christ of the Abyss statue and the Cheeca Rocks Sanctuary Preservation Area.
Click the photo to see the gallery.

In the gallery for Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, viewers can explore five images of sea life including barrel sponges and a lionfish.
Click the photo to see the 360-degree images.

The Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary gallery features 12 images rich with marine life, including a great shot of schooling Atlantic spadefish.
Click the photo to see the gallery.

In the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary gallery, viewers can explore twelve sites with different wrecks, including the American Union and the City of Alpena.
Click the photo to see the 360-degree images.