【Super Virgin (2012)】

SINGAPORE -- Now you can Super Virgin (2012)dive into a realistic reef without having to get wet.

A team of technologists and marine biology experts have produced a virtual reality coral reef based off the Sisters' Islands Marine Park in Singapore.

The demo, named "Eyes on Habitat: Coral Reefs" was unveiled on Wednesday. The training tool is designed for classroom instruction, where instructors can guide trainees through different kinds of coral in the reef, and educate them on the different organisms in the coral ecosystem.

Here's a 360 video of the experience provided to Mashable, although it's a far cry from the 3D VR immersion:

The project was put together by Singapore-based VR firm Hiverlab together with environment and water consultants DHI, as well as the government's Pixel Labs, which runs programmes and provides facility space to startups.

The five months of work to put it together included diving at the Sisters' Islands to shoot 360 video with a modified 3D camera that could map the underwater reef.

The 3D models of the corals were constructed over multiple photos with a technique called photogrammetry.

There are a few challenges to doing so underwater, according to Hiverlab's founder Ender Jiang. "One is the visibility -- Singapore's water is a bit [less clear] and challenging. We have to scan all those small areas, piece by piece," Jiang said.

Coral is also shaped irregularly, so the models aren't as easy to construct as a simpler shape such as a cube or ball, the team said.

The experience is expected to also help students and volunteers identify coral in their natural habitats, and learn the various methods of surveying marine biology.

"When you teach people to do scientific methods, a lot of times, when it is your first dive, you dive in and you're like 'oh my god, what am I doing now?'" said Siti Maryam Yaakub, senior marine ecologist at DHI.

The simulation allows instructors to run through the demo as if it were real, so students don't have to imagine the process.

Instructors will also be able to use the VR environment for more realistic tests, compared with traditional formats, she added.

Next stop, Maldives

Hiverlab said it's started a similar project on reefs in the Maldives with TheHydrous, a San Francisco-based NGO.

The company plans to produce the final cut of that in May.

But work on the Singapore island isn't over. Hiverlab and DHI said they are keen to produce a collaborative platform where 3D scans and photogrammetry of corals and reefs can be crowdsourced.

"Connecting global divers to contribute to this topic is our consistent mission, and we will start with baby steps," Jiang told Mashable.

The team hopes to release a guide manual to other diving institutes later this year, in hopes that other divers will be able to contribute.

With these efforts, perhaps one day all the world's coral reefs will be documented in 3D.

UPDATE: Feb. 16, 2017, 11:26 a.m. SGT Updated with additional comments from Hiverlab.