Most people in the world will never see the beauty of a coral reef in-person, so we decided to bring it them through virtual reality.

Supported by Conservation International and the Tiffany & Co. Foundation, we journeyed across the world to the Bird’s Head Seascape in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Not long ago this reef was decimated by commercial fishing, poaching, and damaging practices like blast fishing. In the film, local scientist Ronald Mambrasar shares with his young son Valen the story of how the community has reclaimed and protected their ancestral waters.

To capture this spectacle of biodiversity we developed industry defining technology for filming underwater. Our purpose-built camera and technology maximized the color and clarity of the image, all in service to the efforts of conservation and capturing the beauty and significance of these underwater paradises.

YouTube is showcased the film as part of a curated selection of virtual reality films at the YouTube Beach at the 2016 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Viewers worldwide could also dive into “Valen’s Reef” exclusively on YouTube 360 and the Within app.

The film was also shown on Conservation International and Tiffany's Foundation fundraising events to draw donations on a grassroots level.

Since being the first Virtual Reality film created by Conservation International, Virtual Reality has now become a fixture of the organization's efforts in creating calls to action.

Now, fish populations have rebounded; sharks, whales and rays have returned; poaching is down 90%; coral is recovering; and ecotourism has flourished — all while local people’s access to education, food and livelihoods have improved.

The Bird’s Head Seascape is poised to transition into an independent, community managed network Marine Protected Area and stands as a model for other programs around the world.