A virtual dive into ocean conservation and protection

Abstract

Whale watching provides an opportunity to educate the public about marine conservation and protection, yet it often falls short of this potential and poses an ongoing dilemma as it inherently disturbs the animals. This note discusses Us: The Sea of Sounds, a project that we designed to address challenges by raising awareness about underwater noise pollution and its harmful effects on marine life, especially cetaceans. We adopted immersive and interpretative methods to foster emotional engagement and learning. The project was tested in the form of an interactive exhibition in August 2024 in Bodø, Norway, near prominent whale-watching sites. In this note, we describe the project's development, the key partners, and the practical implementation of the exhibition. It also reflects on the lessons learned about the possible limited knowledge of the natural environment by residents and the potentials of combining science with art and technology and considers how similar initiatives could promote respectful and responsible marine tourism.