The Power of Virtual Reality - Conquering Your "Jaws" fears

August 26, 2018 by Roy Kimhi

1 min 30 sec reading time

Back in 1975, Steven Spielberg caught the world unprepared for one of the most famous horror movies ever created.

He made it so successfully, that not only it earned $470 million worldwide, he made us believe that sharks are sea-monsters, man-eaters, and so this myth began.

The first time I heard of Virtual Reality was on a TED talk by Chris Milk where he explained how VR could be the ultimate empathy machine.

He spoke about provoking compassion and connection, and how this concept of immersing yourself in a different "Avatar World" could make you see things through different eyes.

He talked about a VR film he made on a Syrian refugee camp, and how he brought it up to the decision-makers in the UN. I was stoked about this idea and wondered what could be done next?

My professional career started in the Navy, then as a diving expert, submersible pilot, fleet manager, and filmmaker. While diving on Cocos Island (Costa Rica), also known as "the island of the sharks", my perspective and fear of sharks have entirely changed.

It was then when I learned about their grim reality, where dozens of millions of sharks are being killed every year, bringing them to the brink of extinction. And I thought, "This story needs to be told". After all, not everyone could embark on a 30-hours open ocean crossing to the middle of the Pacific.

Four years later, I'm on board an expedition vessel on my way to Guadalupe Island (Mexico) with an NGO (@NakaweProject), a film crew, 360 camera system made out of 6 Go-Pro cameras, a drone with a 360-action camera attached to it and four diving cages.

Our mission?

To film Great White sharks for a VR film, tell their real story and give them a voice.

"I was stoked about this idea and wondered what could be done next?"

"The Great" VR film was initially funded as a marketing tool for a liveaboard company but became much more than that. It is a way of conquering our fears of shark by diving with them (and without even getting wet).

It immerses you in a world where sharks are not monsters, but beautiful creatures worth our care protection.

They truly deserve this myth to be dispelled.