Lorraine Williamson
The ocean can feel distant from everyday life, yet a new experience in Valencia aims to close that gap in spectacular fashion. Oceanogràfic has launched Inmersión, a mixed-reality show that places audiences eye-to-eye with vast marine creatures — without a single animal in captivity.
Inside the Auditorio Mar Rojo, visitors slip on next-generation 3D glasses and watch the room transform. The effect is striking. Projections blend with the headset’s technology until the auditorium appears to fracture like an aquarium tank. Water pours in, corals drift past, and suddenly whales glide into view as if sharing the space.
This approach represents a major step in how aquariums present marine life. Rather than replicating a tank environment, the technology builds an entire virtual seascape that surrounds the audience.
Travelling through Earth’s oceans in minutes
The show moves through several of the world’s most extraordinary waters. The Red Sea opens the journey, giving way to the Caribbean’s bright reefs, then to the quiet intensity of polar seas. Each environment introduces different species and landscapes, highlighting contrasts between tropical ecosystems and the fragile polar world.
By placing these environments side by side, the experience hints at the vast breadth of the global ocean — and how connected its different regions are.
Storytelling at the centre of the experience
Two characters, Change and Napoleón, serve as guides throughout the show. Their narration links the visual spectacle to the real-world challenges facing marine environments. They turn the experience into an accessible learning moment, offering context without overwhelming the viewer.
Their presence also helps the audience follow the emotional arc of the journey, softening the transition between serene scenes and those that focus on environmental damage.
A European first in mixed-reality technology
Oceanogràfic is the first aquarium in Europe to adopt mixed reality on this scale. The combination of high-resolution projections and 3D glasses means animals appear to move naturally around the auditorium rather than on a distant screen. It gives the sensation of sharing the same physical space, something traditional aquarium tanks cannot replicate.
The technology is designed not merely to impress, but to give visitors a deeper sense of proximity to creatures rarely seen in the wild.
Raising awareness through immersion
Although the visuals are often breathtaking, Inmersión is not solely about spectacle. Climate change, pollution, and overfishing appear throughout the narrative. By showing marine environments at their most beautiful and most vulnerable, the experience aims to strengthen public understanding of the pressures facing the oceans.
Research suggests immersive storytelling can have a stronger impact than standard exhibitions, especially among younger audiences who respond to interactive learning.
A milestone for Valencia and for marine education
The launch of Inmersión marks a shift in how cultural institutions present the natural world. Oceanogràfic has created a space where technology, science, and art converge, offering visitors the thrill of “swimming” with whales while absorbing key messages about conservation.
As Oceanogràfic continues to develop its educational programmes, this mixed-reality journey signals a new direction — one in which virtual oceans may help protect real ones.
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