AT: Jeffrey Seifert

RUST, Germany — Once the Rulantica water park at Europa-Park is able to reopen, guests will have the option to partake in a unique underwater VR experience — Snorri Snorkling VR. Equipped with VR goggles and a snorkel, adventurers will be able to follow Snorri Touren, Rulantica’s playful, six-tentacled Octopus mascot, on a spectacular underwater journey.

The development of a diving theater as part of the Swim VR product family has been ongoing for several years. The concept was designed and implemented in cooperation with MackNext and VR Coaster. VR Coaster, a subsidiary of the Mack Group, introduced the world’s first virtual reality roller coaster together with Europa-Park. VR Coaster received a Brass Ring Award in the “Best New Product Concept Award: Other Products/Services” category during IAAPA Expo 2018. Since that time the product has been adapted for underwater use, overcoming the challenges of safely submerging image-generating electronics.

With Snori Snorkling VR, guests can literally dive into Snorri’s world for a unique underwater tour alongside the popular park mascot. Swimmers put on a virtual reality headset through which they experience the virtual environment. After attaching a snorkel, they enter a small current pool, and submerge themselves face down. A handlebar at the front of the pool makes sure the current does not carry the swimmer away. During the journey, Snorri serves as the guide, and takes guests through his realm to explore the fantastic underwater world of Rulantica as well as shipwrecks and underwater castles. During the finale, explorers come face to face with one of Rulantica’s sea monsters.

By tilting one’s head, the swimmer can look around and water jets create authentic, noticeable water flow that is synchronized with the film. Other 4D effects include air bubbles during particularly exciting scenes. An underwater sound system completes the experience by providing a soundtrack and quasi-dialogue (Snorri can’t speak but he can make sounds). 

The Snorri Snorkling VR experience will last five to six minutes, with the underwater portion about three minutes long. The attraction takes place in two separate pools in Rulantica opposite the themed area Skog Lagune. Each pool accommodates two swimmers. 

The attraction is priced extra at €7 (US$8.44), two of which are for single-use snorkels that the swimmers keep and are able to take home with them as a souvenir. Guests can make a purchase online when they , or, depending on availability, at the front desk. The new attraction will be available as soon as Europa-Park and Rulantica reopen. Due to current restrictions by the German government, the park remains closed until further notice.

This attraction is the first installation of the Diving Theater, which will be offered as complete turnkey solution with integrated water treatment, temperature control and all the equipment necessary for operation. Along with the Mack Group’s in-house creative team, personalized VR adventures can be created to fulfill individual customer requirements. The special Swim VR glasses offer high-resolution 4K optics and are designed for comfortable wearing during underwater use.

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