( CNN ) -- An international scientific expedition has revealed a South Pacific island roughly the size of Manhattan and clearly marked on online maps and marine charts does not , in fact , exist . The 'undiscovery ' of the island -- which until now was midway between Australia and New Caledonia -- highlights how much there still is to learn about the oceans , scientists say . `` We saw this mysterious island on all the scientific maps and weather maps but not on this one navigational chart that was on our ship , '' Ph.D student Sabin Zahirovic , part of the research team on board the RV Southern Surveyor , told CNN . `` So we decided to go see if it was actually there . '' The ship did n't find an island . The island , identified as Sandy Island by Google Maps and Sable Island on others , was supposed to be quite large in size -- 156 square kilometers ( 60 square miles ) -- but the ship sailed right through the area where the island was supposed to be . 7 places that inspire gratitude . `` The captain was actually quite nervous because the island was showing up on all the maps , '' Zahirovic said . The undiscovery was made during the ship 's voyage this month . Although the team had originally planned to check out the existence of the island during the day , they had arrived at the location of the island at night due to a navigational error . `` We were watching all of our depth-sounding equipment . Luckily for us the sea floor turned out to be very deep there , '' said Zahirovic , who is studying the tectonic evolution of the eastern Coral Sea . The implications are significant . Although the undiscovery of the island was not part of the original research mission of the international team of scientists led by University of Sydney 's Dr. Maria Seton , the implications of the wrong maps are significant . `` All the scientific cartography relies on these maps , and numerical simulations of waves and currents depend on size of these land forms , '' said Zahirovic . Eat like a local : Share your picks . `` It just goes to show the oceans are so underexposed . It 's actually really shocking that we have n't not found more islands . '' When asked about the Google Maps mistake , a Google spokesperson told CNN that keeping on top of changes is a `` never-ending endeavor , '' and that Google will continuously explore ways to integrate new information from users .
The island shows up on the maps between Australia and New Caledonia . See Green Island by Google Maps and Sable Island on what is supposed to be 60 square miles . The ship sailed right through the area where the island was supposed to be .