Now that delegates from 24 countries and the European Union have agreed that the Ross Sea in Antarctica will become the world’s largest marine protected area all eyes are focusd again on how to get out there and enjoy the adventure of being there.
Some 1.57m sq km (600,000 sq miles) of the Southern Ocean will, as a result of the agreement, gain protection from commercial fishing for 35 years.
Good news for those who plan to visit the area by sea in years to come.
If however you cannot wait to get immediately there try an immersive Antarctic 360° Virtual Reality Experience and explore the 7th Continent with thin the comfort of your own home
Quark Expeditions have become the first polar travel company to offer a complete Antarctic voyage in immersive 360° video and on a mobile VR app.
This all new 360° VR Antarctic Experience is now viewable at QuarkExpeditions.com, on YouTube, and on Quark’s social media channels and it allows the viewer to almost stand amidst a penguin colony and explore the stunning Antarctic landscapes front and back.
It is a most unique way to bring Antarctica to life for polar enthusiasts and adventure travelers researching and planning their trip.
Viewers will be able to virtually explore Antarctica using material filmed using GoPro cameras on board a voyage in February 2016.
The video showcases different ways to explore the 7th continent and offers viewers the unique opportunity to participate in key aspects of a journey that include:
- Life onboard the ship
- Cruising on Zodiac landing craft
- Exploring on the Antarctic continent
- Kayaking
- Learning about history and wildlife from Quark’s Expedition staff
A two-man film crew captured the spectacular 360° footage, during a process that presented a few challenges. The difficult task of positioning cameras on a moving Zodiac and finding ways to stretch battery life of the GoPro cameras were a just few things the duo had to overcome; but the finished product was worth the challenges in the process.
Film crew member Hugo King-Fretts recalls: “It was almost as if you were in a cathedral. These huge, huge walls were coming up and you’re in these small corridors where you would get surges of waves coming through. The geology, the scale of it, was just phenomenal. The awe- inspiring footage we were able to capture reflects a truly amazing experience that’s beyond description with words.”
If you do not have a VR headset enjoy this alternative video here right now.