The Fiordland Marine Guardians have partnered with the Deep Cove Outdoor Education Trust to develop a marine education programme befitting the unique and fragile underwater environment.
More than 1200 students from schools in Southland and Otago attend the Deep Cove Hostel for school camps each year.
Students are now able to go for a virtual ‘‘dive’’ in the fiords without getting wet, thanks to a virtual reality experience developed by researchers at Victoria University of Wellington.
Fiordland Marine Guardians guardian John Cushen, a former school associate principal, said for people to develop a sense of caring, they must first understand what was so special.
‘‘I strongly believe that this programme will influence the students’ attitude towards the marine environment at a foundational time in their personal development,’’ he said in a statement.
‘‘Our marine programme is designed to immerse the students in the environment, to pique their interest.
‘‘I would then hope it would naturally follow that they would be compelled to care for the place.’’
The marine education programme is available to participating schools from the start of this year.
