our MISSION

To scientifically record the world’s coral reefs and reveal them to all in high resolution, 360-degree panoramic vision

POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPs

Founding partnership

The XL Catlin Seaview Survey, formed back in 2011 by a three-way relationship between founding partners Underwater Earth, The University of Queensland (UQ) and AXA XL (previously XL Catlin) grew in magnitude and impact thanks to strong partnerships with the likes of Google, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and UNESCO and a significant many other partnerships and collaborations. Contributions included scientific collaborations; surveying and vessel collaborations (such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Living Oceans Foundation); analysis partners (such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego); data providers (such as NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch, World Resources Institute); location sponsors (such as Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort); and equipment sponsors (such as Fourth Element).

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

Game-changing technology has been fundamental to the success of the XL Catlin Seaview Survey. The Shallow Reef surveys were carried out using unique SVII underwater camera systems specifically developed by Underwater Earth for the project and adapted for surveying. The Deep Reef surveys were undertaken using remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs). The survey data was analysed post expedition using artificial intelligence and sophisticated image recognition technology.

SEAVIEW SVII CAMERA

Voted by TIME Magazine amongst the top 100 new scientific discoveries of 2015, the SVII camera system does for underwater what Google’s Street View cameras do for dry land and so much more! The SVII was invented and built by the Underwater Earth team, in partnership with Panedia and DiveX, to take people virtual diving in Google Street View. Recognising the huge potential of the camera system and it’s visual outputs, the SVII camera system was then adapted by the scientists for game-changing scientific coral reef monitoring.

The orb (SVII’s head) houses three SLR cameras and adapted lens allowing ultra-wide-angle photography, designed to capture full 360-degree environments. The camera system is operated by a tablet in a bespoke underwater housing using a special software developed to control the three cameras, allowing them to simultaneously take rapid-fire images every 3 seconds whilst traveling at a speed of approximately 2.5-3 km/h, powered by a military-grade underwater scooter and navigated by a diver.

Virtual Diving

The SVII images are then stitched together and published online in a fashion that allows anyone with a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone to self-navigate a ‘virtual dive’ in stunning high-resolution.

Scientific Value

Each image captured represents a moment in time underwater. A visual record of that reef environment. The high-resolution imagery allows the science community to analyse the visual data in the image to determine an accurate account of the reef’s composition.

Geo-location

For each image captured, a geo-location and camera direction is also recorded allowing the Seaview Survey team to make repeat visits to survey locations and draw comparisons on how each reef system is faring. Given the open-source nature of this data, members of the scientific community can also do their own repeat surveys and make there own comparisons over time. The positive implications for long term monitoring of reefs are huge.

SEAVIEW SVII-S CAMERA

The SVII-S is a trimmed down version of the team's game-changing SVII camera system.
The key difference is that instead of mounting the camera orb and underwater tablet onto a heavy underwater scooter, it is all attached to a purpose built, neutrally buoyant pole-like structure. Instead of weighing upward of 65kgs and requiring two to three people to move the assembled camera on dry land, we have the same technology in a much lighter package which can be transported by just one diver.

Built for Rapid Deployment

The SVII-S allows us to deploy a camera more quickly when responding to global change events such as coral bleaching episodes or post-cyclone surveys. It also means we can have multiple cameras working in different areas at the same time allowing us to capture more images in a shorter time period. And because the SVII-S is 'human powered' we do not need to travel with scooter bodies, propellers, or additional batteries.

AXA XL

Commitment to Science and Ocean Literacy

The XL Catlin Seaview Survey is a foundational part of AXA XL’s legacy of investment into ocean science. XL supported ocean science research from 1992 through the work of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences. Catlin started sponsoring the Catlin Arctic Surveys from 2009 to 2011, which comprised a series of expeditions to collect data from the surface of the Arctic Ocean - from sea ice thickness and ocean acidification, to the possible destabilisation of currents due to sea ice melt.

In 2012, recognising the impact climate change and human pressures will have on the fragile state of coral reefs, the XL Catlin Seaview Survey set out to create a scientific baseline record of reefs to enable change to be monitored over time. This data is now publicly available on the Global Reef Record.

In 2016, XL Catlin partnered with Nekton to conduct a Deep Ocean Survey around Bermuda. The Deep Ocean Survey contributed to the discovery of more than 100 new species and helped create new maps of Bermuda's exclusive economic zone.

As a continuation of this commitment to science and ocean literacy, and to actively understand the implications of a warming and changing ocean, the Ocean Risk Initiative was launched in 2017. This included introducing the Ocean Risk Scholarships to further expand post-graduate research on the implications of ocean-derived change on the broader risk landscape and continuing AXA’s commitment to its renowned Ocean Education programme.

In May 2018 the first Ocean Risk Summit convened in Bermuda. It brought together leaders from across the political, environmental and finance sectors to identify new solutions to the potential exposures of ocean risk. It highlighted that the insurance and finance industries, with their expertise in modelling and risk transfer, have a unique role to play in mitigating ocean risk and building resilience.

As part of the Initiative, in 2019 AXA co-founded and launched the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, which aims to drive $500m of investment into coastal natural capital by 2030 through pioneering innovative finance and insurance products that reduce ocean risk in vulnerable regions and communities.

About AXA XL

AXA XL, the property & casualty and specialty risk division of AXA, provides insurance and risk management products and services for mid-sized companies through to large multinationals, and reinsurance solutions to insurance companies globally. AXA XL is the result of AXA’s 2018 acquisition of XL Catlin. AXA XL is a division of AXA Group providing products and services through three business groups: AXA XL Insurance, AXA XL Reinsurance and AXA XL Risk Consulting. We partner with those who move the world forward. To learn more, visit www.axaxl.com.

UNDERWATER ROBOTs

ROVs in the deep

The XL Catlin Seaview Survey scientific team utilised ROVs to explore the mesophotic zone, in excess of 30-100 metres in depth, with the purpose of documenting unexplored reefs and assessing their vulnerability in the face of climate change. The ROVs had the ability to move effortlessly in any direction and carry large payloads of scientific equipment that varied depending on the tasks of each expedition dive. Without the limits of human physiology, the ROVs were able to spend hours exploring the depths before returning rapidly to the surface with samples. They were also deployed to carry equipment to divers and do reconnaissance dives allowing the team to plan their next dives.

Images and data

Each of the ROVs was fitted with a custom remotely-controlled DSLR system to record high-definition, wide-angle video and a 20,000+ lumen lighting system. They also featured an Ultra Short Base Line (USBL) geo-positioning system to capture accurate GPS fixes underwater, and sensors to collect data that included depth, temperature, heading, tilt and altitude (distance from bottom).