Virtually Dive into History
The seabed is often considered the world’s largest museum, however, to-date, only divers or personal submersibles are able to descend to the seabed to visit these historic time capsules. The result is a prevalent out of sight and out mind outlook amongst the wider public when it comes to underwater cultural heritage. The reason for this is simple – the physical barrier created by the sea itself.
Mitigating against this, is the central principle of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, which established the raising of public awareness as a central tenet of the Convention. This principle is fully endorsed by The Virtual Museum – Underwater Malta, inviting the public to virtually Dive into History. Advances in technology provide this astounding opportunity to explore the underwater world without getting wet. The use of powerful cameras and special underwater lights enabled the team to capture Malta’s underwater cultural heritage in such a way as to make it accessible to everyone, and allowing the public to dive into history, through the use of 3D, virtual reality and other media. The creation of this digital record contributes to the continued effort for the preservation and protection of Malta’s submerged cultural heritage for future generations.