Immersive Underwater Exploration

Atlantis

A virtual journey between a dreamlike temple on moving water and an underwater cave of rediscovered art: immersive exploration as a museum beneath the surface.

Role
Lead Developer & Interactive Systems Designer
Date
2023
Context

A museum below the waves

Atlantis is a virtual exploration experience that takes visitors into ocean depths to encounter submerged artefacts, marine habitats, and rediscovered artworks. It offers an otherworldly passage through dreamlike and underwater settings: a digital museum where looking and moving replace the glass case.

Concept

Two worlds, one threshold

Above: a circular Greek temple sits at the centre of a moving water plane, reached by six piers. Magical circles and light interactions build suspense until the full set triggers a camera transition into the deep. Below: an underwater cavern under the seabed opens into five chambers (a central hub and four side rooms, each holding visual works), with doors, fireflies, and spatial sound marking every approach. The spectator is not shown Atlantis; they walk it.

Process

Unity as the dive suit

The experience runs in Unity: person controller, water systems, particles, Quixel materials, and trigger-based interactions. Falling resets the player; eight upper-world circles unlock the descent; lower doors slide open on approach with layered ambient and effect sound. Dual sound beds (upper and lower) keep each world sonically distinct while the transition binds them into one arc.

Outcome

A shared world, split authorship

Atlantis is a continuous exploration from temple to cavern, where visitors become divers through a virtual museum rather than spectators of a single screen.

Credits

Immersive virtual exploration experience.

Collaboration

With

  • Elisa Luzi
  • Emanuele Danna
  • Giammarco Benetti

Production

Lead Developer & Interactive Systems Designer

  • Janus

Tools

  • Unity