A new immersive underwater virtual reality experience takes users into the world of tiger and hammerhead sharks.
The new exhibit from Immotion, which was filmed at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas, is part of the company’s Blue Ocean series which can be experienced at zoos and aquariums across the country.
As part of the project, the team of researchers and filmmakers led Matthew Smukall, CEO of the Bimini Shark Lab and the Save our Seas Foundation,, successfully tagged a tiger and great hammerhead with a small virtual reality camera, which revealed what it feels like to move like a shark. For the great hammerhead, this meant seeing the world in 360 degrees. The footage clearly shows how the hammerhead needs to move its head in constant motion to eliminate the central blind spot.
“The experience makes full use of the visual, sound and motion capabilities of our VR Cinematic motion pods to deliver something ground-breaking and memorable, that will enhance the conservation efforts to protect these creatures,” Rod Findley, Group Commercial Director, Immotion Group said. “Using VR technology to study the movement and behaviour of these sharks can play a crucial part in educating people to gain a better understanding of the species, and the vital role they play in preserving the marine ecosystem.”
