How to play Dive detectives

The Dive Detective experience’s welcome screen.

The Dive Detective VR experience’s map and information panel. The map shows the ocean surrounding Cocos island. The information panel displays clues about the animal’s location.

The diver’s underwater perspective showing the seafloor.

The Dive Detective VR experience shown on a computer screen, tablet, and iPhone. The computer screen and tablet shows a map of the ocean surrounding Cocos island and the experience’s information panel. The iPhone shows an underwater view from the experience.

The Dive detective experience’s welcome screen with a “Get Started” button. The button is highlighted.

Information screen with a “Continue” button. The button is highlighted.

The pairing screen which has the QR code on the right and the “Continue” button on the left. The button is highlighted.

The first screen of the experience’s information section. It provides information about the mission. It has a “Continue” button in the bottom right corner and a “I’m done” button in the top right corner. Both buttons are highlighted.

The second screen of the experience’s information section. It provides information about the species. A “Continue” button is highlighted at the bottom right corner.

The last screen of the experience’s information section. It provides information about the scientists who tagged the animals. A “Get started” button is highlighted at the bottom right corner.

The experience’s map and information panel tutorial. On the left side of the panel is a section with icons for each species encountered in the experience. A pop-up box explains the section. An “Ok, got it!” button is highlighted on the box.

The experience’s map and information panel. There is a boat highlighted in the ocean.

The experience’s map and information panel. On the left side of the panel are icons for each species. The icons are highlighted.

The experience’s map and information panel. On the right side of the panel are gauges providing information about the dive site. The gauges are highlighted.

The experience’s map and information panel. At the far left corner of the map is a “Start Dive” button. The button is highlighted.

The experience’s map and information panel. A clipboard icon is on the right side. The icon is highlighted.

The dive log for the first dive. On the left are fields to record observations about the water clarity, bottom type, and number of animals. On the right are fields to record data about the tagged animals. At the bottom is a “Continue exploring” button.

The diver’s screen after scanning a tagged animal. It shows information about the animal’s name, sex, length, and maturity, as well as the name of scientist who tagged it.

The experience’s map and information panel. At the far left corner of the map is a “End Dive” button. The button is highlighted.

The dive log for the tenth dive. On the left are fields to record observations.On the right are fields to record data about the tagged animals. At the bottom is a “End mission” button. The button is highlighted.

Message asking users if they are sure they are done collecting data. There is a “No, let’s go back” button and a “Yes, I’m done!” button.

Dive detectives is a VR diving simulation!

In this virtual reality scavenger hunt, you will look for three migratory animals: the giant oceanic manta ray, the green sea turtle, and the scalloped hammerhead. You can use your field guide to learn more about what you see.

Roles

You can play Dive detectives by yourself, or as a multi-player experience.

Before we dive in, let’s set up our devices and choose roles.

The Diver and the Divemaster work together to plan dives and collect information.

Playing as the Diver

As the Diver, your job is to look around under the water and describe what you see.

The Divemaster will help you to take notes in the dive log.

The Diver uses a VR headset (if available), a phone, or a tablet to look around underwater.

Talk to the Divemaster about the mission for the dive.

When you are ready to go underwater, let the divemaster know that you want to dive in.

Playing as the Divemaster

As the Divemaster, your job is to set up the dives, to check the Field Guide, and to add notes to the dive log.

The Divemaster uses the internet browser on the tablet or computer to move the boat around the map.

The Divemaster can see the underwater scene by clicking on the mask icon.

Devices

You will need two devices. For the best experience, one player should have a tablet or computer, and the other player should have a tablet or mobile phone with a VR headset.

Step 1 - Get started

The main screen will appear after the experience finishes loading.

Click Get started.

Click Continue.

Step 2 - Pair your devices

To see the virtual reality environment on your phone or tablet, scan the QR code with the camera app on your device. This step is optional.

If you are on a phone, you can now choose whether you want to use the VR view or the 360° view.

Tap VR to use a VR headset like Google Cardboard. Now you will be able to place your phone into your headset.
Tap 360° if you don’t have a headset. We recommend using the 360° view if VR experiences give you motion sickness.

On the main computer or tablet, click Continue.

Step 3 - Learn about your mission

Now you will learn about your mission.

Click Continue to move to the next screen.

Open the Field Guide

In the introduction to the experience, click to open the Field Guide in a new tab.

The Field Guide has pictures and descriptions of species and habitats that you could see under the water.

Keep the Field Guide open throughout the experience to use as a reference.

Click Continue.

Click Get Started.

Step 4 - Tutorial

Now you are ready for the tutorial. The pop-ups will explain each section.

Click Ok, got it! when you finish reading the instructions on each pop-up.

Step 5 - Dive

The Divemaster can click or tap on the map to move the boat.

You only have enough oxygen on board to complete 10 dives, so plan wisely!

Use the clues!

Which species are you looking for?

When your team has made a decision, click on the animal icon at the bottom.

Click an animal icon to refresh the clues below the map. Can you use these clues to figure out where the animals might be?

The gauges at the bottom of the map will update to show you information about your dive site, including the:

Depth of the seafloor
Biodiversity in the region
Chlorophyll level in the water

The Divemaster must click START DIVE to send the diver down into the water.

Now you can look around under the water.

If you're a Diver, make sure that you share your observations with the Divermaster!

You will see a grey circle on your screen. That's your scanner.

If you find a tagged animal, keep the animal in the middle of your scanner until the scan is complete.

When the scan is complete, information about the animal will appear at the bottom of the screen. Add this information to your dive log!

The Divermaster clicks on the clipboard icon on the right side of the screen to open the dive log.

A new page will be added for every dive.

Use the dropdown menu to change pages.

The left side of the dive log is for recording the observations.

Ask the Diver what they see under the water, and write your notes in the boxes.

When the Diver scans a tagged animal, record the data for that animal on the right side of your dive log.

Click or tap END DIVE to finish this dive.

Now you can move your boat to a new location.

Step 6 - End the experience

On your 10th dive, you can end the experience by clicking End mission at the bottom of your dive log.

Click No, let’s go back if you want to resume the experience.

Click Yes, I’m done! If you want to exit the experience.

Step 7 - Choose your next step

Click Go to activity to reflect on your observations.

You can compare your observations from each of the dives, and look for patterns in where you found the animals!

Click Start over to restart the experience.

Click Download CSV to download your dive log.

Use a spreadsheet program like Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, or Numbers to open your CSV file.