OCEANIA VR is an underwater VR film series that takes audiences below the surface to some of the most beautiful and interesting dive locations around Australia and Fiji. It is exclusively available to Meta Quest via Meta Quest TV. Trailer and episode links below.

To watch Episodes on your Meta Quest VR device, visit the playlist link by clicking on the image below.

Credits:

Narrated by

Dr Erika Woolsey (The Hydrous)

Stefan Andrews (Ocean Imaging)

Brandon Paige (The Shark Whisperer)

Underwater 3D VR Cinematography

James Donald, Jon Diver, Jon Shaw

Edited and Directed by

James Donald

Executive Producers (Meta)

Eric Cheng & Jonathan Gleit

VR Post Production & Stereography

Stokefarm Productions

Motion Graphics

Patrick Taylor (OPT/MIST)

Original Score

Moses Truzman

Spatial Sound Design

Darius Kedros (Sonic State Design)

Mauro Kenji Serra (Kenji Productions)

Additional Music

Mauro Kenji Serra (Kenji Productions)

Gossamer by SINK

Mixed at The Garden Studios, Melbourne

Special Thanks:

Brandon Paige

Beqa Lagoon Resort

Vanessa Caruso

Trent Clews-de Castella

South West Rocks Dive Centre

Reef Encounter Crew

Erika Woolsey, Phd (The Hydrous)

For enquiries contact james@stokefarm.work or jamesd@ecovr.world

THE FIRST RULE OF CUTTLEFISH FIGHT CLUb…

Always tell the truth! At least that’s what Australian researchers have discovered about Giant Australian Cuttlefish:

“The study on cuttlefish behaviour has found that male cuttlefish always tell the truth when facing off with other male cuttlefish – if they appear to be about to fight, they are”.

In fact there are a specific set of rules when battling with other male cuttlefish, - they perform a discrete sequence of visual displays to communicate a hierarchy of threats to rivals.

Learn more at https://www.mq.edu.au/newsroom/2016/07/29/first-rule-of-cuttlefish-fight-club-always-tell-the-truth/

under threat

A commercial fishing ban for Australian giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama) in the upper Spencer Gulf where this film was taken in 2019 has now been lifted. The ban was put in place in 2013 to adress a decline in population of the unique aggregration in this area. The fishing has now begun and the lifting of this ban is not based on science. It is unknown what effect on the population the fishing has already had.

Professor Roger Hanlon, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (the largest independent oceanographic institution in the USA) has called the breeding aggregation “the premier marine attraction on the planet”.

The aggregation has also featured in David Attenborough documentaries and attracts divers from far and wide.

If you like this film or download it, please consider signing the petition to put pressure on government to ensure the survival of these unique creatures.

https://www.change.org/p/minister-tim-whetstone-protect-whyalla-s-giant-cuttlefish-aggregation?

https://www.facebook.com/cuttlefishalliance/

science LINKS

https://phys.org/news/2015-07-cuttlefish-wisely.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepia_apama

download the film

Slow-motion full resolution 5760x2880 at 30fps for Meta Quest (8:48mins, 4GB): Click here for download

Real-speed 60fps version for Meta Quest (6:17mins, 3GB): Click here for download and choose the best version for your device

Once downloaded, transfer the file to the Movies folder on your Meta Quest headset and it will appear in Meta TV internal storage ready to watch. You may also have to switch the projection to 180VR with your controller.

Manta rays are the world’s largest rays. There are currently two recognised species, the reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) and the giant oceanic manta ray (Manta birostris), reaching wingspans of 5 and 7m respectively. These iconic species are harmless giants of the oceans. They attract considerable public interest and are the subject of globally important ecotourism industries. They are also targeted for fisheries in various parts of the world and as a consequence are listed as Vulnerable to Extinction in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 

Project manta

Project Manta is a multidisciplinary study of manta rays, established in 2007, that aims to provide much needed biological and ecological information about the species in eastern Australia.

The Project Manta team visit Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef several times a year. On these expeditions the team will conduct research which includes photographing, observing and recording manta ray behaviour. In the lab, they identify individual rays from photographs and enter the results in the database. They also collect samples of water and plankton and take oceanographic measurements of water currents, conductivity, temperature, and depth.

CITIZEN SCIENCE

Photo-identification (photo-ID) is one of the key methods used in the Manta research since individual manta rays can be differentiated by their distinctive ventral markings, comparable to human finger-prints. ‘Citizen Science’ is a major component of Project Manta for photo-ID data collection. Professional and recreational divers provide photographs and sighting information of manta rays along the entire east Australian coast.

Learn more at the Project Manta website

at Lady Elliot Island

at University of Queensland

at facebook

3 Eco Snow Facts:

Animals and plants depend on snow cover for protection and warmth during winter months

Snow acts as a thermal blanket for plants and animals by trapping air in its crystal structure. The insulating effect of snow helps ground soil retain warmth and moisture during winter and protects plants and organisms from freezing winds and evaporation. In the northern hemisphere, animals such as bears and groundhogs also rely on the thermal properties of snow during hibernation. 

Snow reflects sunlight to help regulate global temperatures 

Like ice, snow relfects a large amount of solar energy and heat that is normally absorbed by the surface of the Earth. The amount of solar radiation relfected back into space compared to the amount that is absorbed is known as 'albedo'. Without winter snowcover, the surface of the earth would absorb 4-6 times the amount of solar radiation.

Snowmelt provides our rivers and lakes with water 

Spring snowmelts are a vital source of drinking and agricultural water supplies in much of the northern hemisphere. 

snow and climate change

The link between global snow albedo and climate is complex, but a declining trend in seasonal snow cover due to global warming has meant that the Earth's albedo is becoming weaker, with less solar radiation and heat reflected back into space. Since winter snows are also melting earlier each spring, a time when there is typically more sunlight, the loss of albedo is reducing the vital cooling effect that snow has on balancing global temperatures. The overall effect is the acceleration of global warming each year. 

The decline in seasonal snow falls is also affecting the environment in other ways. Whilst less overall snow during winter means less water for reservoirs, agriculture, rivers and streams, higher seasonal temperatures can lead to rain and rapid snowmelts that cause flooding in early spring. Similarly, reduced snowcover can expose plants and animals to harsh conditions at unexpected times, or else suffocate them during extreme blizzard events that deposit too much snow in small areas.

The reality of climate change and endangered species can cause distress due to feelings of overwhelm, uncertainty, and helplessness. These feelings are a normal and natural response to the thought of losing something you value - similar to how you might feel if someone you cherished was threatened. The good news is that wilderness environments are resilient and won't be devastated by global warming overnight. Many organisations also work locally and globally toward a sustainable future to protect endangered species and biodiversity. There is time to make a difference. ECOVR can help by providing calming and enriching virtual experiences that remind you of your natural connection to the wider world. Promoting a calm response to global warming that is informed and empowered by a mixture of actual and virtual eco experiences is our goal.

What you can do:

• Seek out and develop a deeper connection with your nearest wilderness environment. Spending time in wilderness areas is not only therapeutic but helps to understand and learn how natural environments work, how they support and protect, renew and replenish. Let it be your teacher in learning how to help and protect it.

• Support critically endangered species and wildlife habitats by contributing to established organisations that serve to protect them.

• Support the use of carbon-neutral renewable energies that don't rely on fossil fuels

• Support the work of ECOVR in using immersive technologies to bring virtual wilderness experiences and environmental awareness to everyone, independent of accessibility, income and geography. 

Recommended organisations:

• Conservation International

• The Nature Conservancy 

• World Wildlife Fund

• The Natural Resources Defense Council

• Wildlife Conservation Society 

• Any local organisations dedicated to the conservation and protection of environment, biodiversity and wildlife.