Marine-based virtual reality allows everyone into the underwater world

THE local marine environment is a wonderous playground, being home to hundreds of different ecosystems with a vast array of sea life.
Encounters in these worlds have typically only been for the brave, the ones willing to go below the surface for the unique experiences.
But today, technological improvements make experiencing the underwater world a reality for everyone regardless of where they live, how they live or how little water experience they may have.
Sea All Dolphin Swims based at Queenscliff Harbour are the leaders in marine education and through innovative processes have now released Victoria’s first marine-based virtual reality education suite.
The suite, known as ‘Sea All Learning Centre’, brings a class of up to 25 students into the marine world where they can experience the visual delights of Port Phillip Bay’s marine environment from the safety and comfort of the classroom.
The suite delivers factual content about the environments and the animals, covering current issues and challenges, delivered by professional marine biologists.
The content is adapted to the audiences age group and can be tied directly in with VCE learning outcomes.
Director James Murphy said trials of the program had been extremely successful.
“Sea All Learning Centre recently amazed both young and old as 843 parents and primary school age children came face to face with a large Southern Rock Lobster, Australian Fur Seals and Burrunan Dolphins all within the confines of the Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre in Queenscliff for Deakin University’s science week celebrations,” Mr Murphy said.
“The diversity of the content is limitless, only governed by our imagination, and the suite will bring all members of the public into the underwater world, including people with mobility or learning difficulties.”
Mr Murphy said sessions were currently geared around the unique environments and animal species that frequent the southern reaches of the bay, but it could be applied to any class, of any year level as part of an in house session or in conjunction with a seal and dolphin sightseeing or swimming tour or surfing lesson.
Sea All are taking booking requests for classes from primary through to Year 12, so if you are interested in a tailored dry marine educational experience or know someone who may be, contact [email protected] to learn more.