Invisible Ocean exhibition is the UK premiere for immersive experiences that have previously been shown at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, DC and California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco.
Audiences have the opportunity to experience the ocean like never before with a series of shared interactive experiences that reveal the crucial secrets of our survival on land.
Invisible Ocean presents four interactive experiences created by UK Immersive Studio Vision3, alongside community-created artwork commissioned by Wales Millennium Centre.
Through the experiences, visitors can witness the ocean from an entirely new perspective as they shrink to the size of micro-plankton, see the world through echolocation, and immerse themselves in bioluminescence, all through various extended reality (XR) media.
These works are the latest in a series of immersive experiences hosted at Bocs – Wales Millennium Centre’s dedicated space for showcasing XR work – and throughout the world-famous iconic building in Cardiff Bay.

Adam May of Vision3, creator of Invisible Ocean, said:
“I’m incredibly excited that so many have been enjoying our immersive ocean experiences as they’ve been showcased to UK audiences for the first time – as this new show, Invisible Ocean. We want to use bleeding edge technology to make everyone participants through active storytelling – exploring beyond what is possible with traditional forms of media. This is a time when we all must engage and reconnect with our planet’s most precious resource.”
David Massey, Senior Digital Experiences Producer at Wales Millennium Centre, said:
“This is our most ambitious showcase yet of immersive experiences at Wales Millennium Centre, tackling an ever-present and increasingly important topic in all our lives. Thousands of all ages have been discovering the ocean in a new way throughout our building this summer.”
Drop in the Ocean (Virtual Reality)
Ride a jellyfish, meet a leatherback turtle, and come face-to-face with a whale shark. From the perspective of tiny plankton, explore the ocean in stunning virtual reality and understand the urgent need to protect it. “Drop in the Ocean” is a social, interactive VR experience that takes you to the marine depths of the Midnight Zone, highlighting the plastic pollution crisis affecting our oceans.
Narrated by Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau, and created by Adam May, Chris Parks, Chris Campkin. Produced by Vision3 in partnership with Conservation International. Inspired by the work of Academy Award-winning micro-photographer Peter Parks.
Critical Distance (Mixed Reality)
“Critical Distance” is a shared immersive experience using groundbreaking mixed reality to transport audiences into the world of Southern Resident orcas in North America’s Pacific Northwest. Through the eyes of Kiki, an eight-year-old orca, experience her communication with her family through echolocation and the daily threats her pod faces. This experience ends on a hopeful note, empowering audiences to help protect Kiki, her family, and their ocean home.
Narrated by Jamie Margolin, and created by Adam May, Chris Campkin. Produced by Vision3 in partnership with Microsoft, featuring sound design by Aaron Day.
WaveMaker (Interactive Projection)
Explore our interactive projection screen, uncover the magic of bioluminescence, and use your whole body to create waves.
Created by Adam May, Chris Parks, Gokhan Sivrikaya. Produced by Vision3
Invisible Ocean AR Trail (Mobile Augmented Reality)
Embark on a digital scavenger hunt around the Wales Millennium Centre and Cardiff Bay – using your mobile devices to discover some of the world’s most remarkable marine creatures, invisible to the naked eye.