World Ocean Day is fast approaching, and while our local marine and sea life centres are (unfortunately) likely to still be shut by then - that doesn’t mean that you can’t still get your fix of marine life.Thankfully, lots of different companies and organisations are sharing some pretty special virtual marine adventures that the whole family can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Check out our favourite eleven underwater experiences down below! Take A Trip With The TurtlesSea turtles are fascinating creatures, and what better way to discover more about them than to watch them in their natural habitat? You and your little ones can explore the Caribbean sea alongside a large turtle in this Airpano “Diving with Turtle” 360° Video. Click and drag your way around the screen to see the ocean as if you were diving in it yourself!You can also check out the BBC’s exciting video of baby turtles hatching on a Caribbean beach and racing towards the water through the sand - a fantastic resource for your kids to learn from and a fascinating video to watch.Dive With The DolphinsIf you’ve ever dreamed of swimming with dolphins, now’s your chance! The Dolphin Swim Club has shared a special 360° VR video “Wild Dolphins VR” that enables you and the family to immerse yourself in the Egyptian Red Sea amongst pods of wild dolphins. The organisation who created the video aim to provide viewers with a cruelty-free alternative to visiting and swimming amongst captive dolphins, whilst still letting you experience all of the therapeutic and relaxing effects. So, sit back and enjoy the beautiful sounds and sights of the incredible creatures from all angles.Journey With The Creatures Of The OceanThanks to this incredible 360° video shot by Airpano - you can now take a virtual adventure with three of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures: sea turtles, stingrays, and jellyfish. As you and your little ones venture off of the coast of Cuba and use your mouse to navigate through the sea, you’ll also be able to learn some pretty interesting facts from the narrator such as how sea turtles live underwater, how stingrays generate electric current to sting, and how jellyfish capture their prey.Explore A ShipwreckHop over to yet another spot around the world in the National Geographic’s “Underwater on Bermuda’s Montana Shipwreck” virtual video - and experience a fascinating tour of a wrecked ship all the way back from 1863. As you explore the wreck, you’ll also be able to listen and learn about the ship’s history and how the coral reef is developing around it. How many people can say they’ve toured a virtual underwater shipwreck?Enjoy A Scuba Dive In A Coral ReefThis 360° video from The Economist may have you feeling like you’re on a virtual vacation as you explore the depths of the stunning “magical corals of Palau” - just off of the coast of the island’s sandy beaches. It’s not all beautiful scenery though, thanks to the narration you’ll also be able to learn all about climate change, how this is affecting the reefs of the great blue sea, and get a great view of the island and its marine life.Swim With The SharksJoin the National Geographic for another underwater adventure - this time for a “360° Great Hammerhead Shark Encounter” off of the coast of the Bahamas. Luckily for you and your little ones, you’re able to enjoy the experience from the safety of your living rooms! As you venture through the clear blue water, you’ll be able to follow the instructions on the screen to look up, down, and around with your mouse as sharks swim right by you. It doesn’t get any cooler than that!If you’d like to experience another adventure with sharks, you can also check out Airpano’s “Diving with Sharks” video in the gardens of the Queen, Cuba to have a look at some Great Whites.Say Hi To A WhaleGet right up close and personal with one of the world’s most fascinating creatures in Transport by Wevr’s 3D 360° “The Blu: Whale Encounter” video. Not only will you be able to have a nice view of the deep blue, but you’ll also be able to hear all of the different sounds that whales make, and have a chance to look one right in the eye!At up to a hundred feet long and weighing upwards of two hundred tons - the blue whale is the world’s largest mammal and makes for an enthralling creature to study, so the whole family will be sure to love this video.Swim Amongst The JellyfishThis underwater Indonesian adventure by Airpano is one that you don’t want to miss out on. Surrounded by mesmerising white jellies everywhere you turn - you’ll be able to catch a good look at the exotic creatures and enjoy the gorgeous clear water surroundings. Don’t forget to scroll around and check out the jellyfish from all angles - as you likely know, these creatures can be extremely dangerous so it’s probable that you won’t ever be able to get as close as this again!Dive With Schools Of FishExperience the lives and movements of these beautiful, colourful schools of fish in Oceans 360’s “Fish of New Zealand” video. As you scroll around with your mouse, it’ll feel as if you’re right there diving amongst them in the water. It’s a great chance to see how many different types of fish you can spot and to check out how incredible they look when moving together.Take A Visit To The AquariumMissing out on your local aquarium or sea life centre? Now’s your chance to experience life from a fish’s point of view thanks to the Georgia Aquarium’s “360 Underwater Video of Tropical Diver” experience. This underwater adventure takes place from right inside a glass fish tank and allows you the chance to check out plenty of tropical, colourful fish and coral - you can even wave hello to the people on the other side of the glass!If that wasn’t enough, the Georgia Aquarium YouTube channel has plenty of other marine life videos and virtual experiences for you and your kids to check out and explore.Dive Deep Into An Underwater WorldExperience an adventure like no other as you travel through the water as a scuba driver and visit coral reefs, caves, stingrays, turtles, dolphins and tropical fish in this Green Peace “360 Degree Deep Dive into the Oceans” adventure. Not only will you be able to experience a virtual dive and explore the clear waters, but you and your little ones will learn about how we can protect our oceans from climate change and pollution through the video’s narration - perfect for the upcoming World Ocean celebration.If you liked this article and want to discover even more about the great oceans, take a look at these ocean learning resources and this boat load of books about the ocean.
World Ocean Day is fast approaching, and while our local marine and sea life centres are (unfortunately) likely to still be shut by then - that doesn’t mean that you can’t still get your fix of marine life.
