With the motto “if we can’t get everyone to water, let’s get water to everyone”, the Town Hall of San Juan de la Rambla and the Innocean Association have created a virtual reality platform that will allow you to dive the rambleros seabed without having to get up from the sofa. The secrets and attractions of the Special Conservation Zone off the coast of this municipality will no longer only be within the reach of expert divers and, shortly, can be enjoyed comfortably from homewith the help of electronic devices such as mobile phones or tablets.
Thanks to underwater recordings made with 360 degree cameras, the immersive experience is total and allows you to enjoy part of the 1,600 hectares of ZEC territory on the coast, where there are reefs, submerged or semi-submerged sea caves and numerous species. In addition, it will be possible to take a second tour of rocky areas with gorgonians and another for the area of La Laja Puddle. Everything will be on an interactive platform accessible from the internet.
This project is an initiative of the municipal area of the Environment, directed by the councilor Priscilla Diaz (PSOE)who assured during his recent official presentation that this tool will be “a revulsion for the cultural and tourist offer and for the enhancement of our sea. From home, and using our electronic device, we will be able to carry out a total immersion, living the experience as if we were under the sea”. Mayor, Ezequiel Dominguez (PSOE)recalled “this space was declared in September 2011 as a Special Conservation Area, a figure contained in the Natura 2000 Network whose purpose is to ensure the long-term survival of the most threatened species and natural habitats in Europe, helping to stop the loss of biodiversity caused by the adverse impact of human activities.
For virtual immersions in San Juan de la Ramblaa team of three people used the camera GoPro Max inside a casing 360 Bubbles to record all videos underwater. In the Charco de la Laja, Maggie Seidathe director of Scientific Media at Innoceana, was in charge of recording the video, while Bertha Philip, project manager, provided assistance from the ground. The rest of the team kept an eye on the weather conditions and the waves, since this place can become very dangerous when there are big waves.
Carlos Mallo and Berta Felipe
In the diving sessions, Carlos Mallo MolinaCEO of Innoceana, and Bertha Philip they dove from a boat and explored the underwater rock formations, including several caves, rock faces and small pinnacles. During one of these dives, a pair of stingrays, an adult and a young, could be observed. From Innoceana they emphasize that “this sighting in the area is very rare and demonstrates the importance of protecting the waters of San Juan de la Rambla».
Innoceana defines itself as “a marine conservation organization that offers innovative solutions to marine problems and involves local communities in protecting the ocean.” This entity was founded in 2017and is headquartered in Spain, Costa Rica and California. His work in San Juan de la Rambla will continue with the design and installation of interpretive tables that offer detailed information about the coast, with access to the virtual platform, and in the draft of a marine interpretation and conservation center.
