Voyage to the Deep is about undersea exploration and adventure

Voyage to the Deep is about undersea exploration and adventure – of
the kind immortalised by Jules Verne’s novel 20,000 Leagues Under
the Seas and celebrated in popular culture from Jacques Cousteau to
the Octonauts.
Verne’s submarine, the Nautilus, was a fantastical craft with a basis in
genuine technologies. This exhibition will present both the fantasy of
the novel and the facts of today, allowing visitors to explore both
Verne’s imaginary world and the real-life wonders of the oceans.
They’ll discover what it is to operate a submarine, and learn about
the underwater world as it would be seen from inside an imaginary
deep-sea exploration vessel.
About the exhibition
Jules Verne wrote 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas nearly 150 years
ago but the underwater adventures of Captain Nemo and his Nautilus
submarine still captivate people today. Our understanding might
have changed, but our fascination for submarine exploration
endures, and our reality now mirrors Verne’s imagination.
Aimed at young children, the Voyage to the Deep will focus on
delivering engaging experiences rather than specific factual
information. It will also feature content to engage adult visitors while
their children are exploring.
The visitor will have an experience that stimulates their imagination
and allows them to role play as a sub-mariner exploring the depths of
the ocean. The visitor will:
 explore the underwater world of submarines and learn how they
work, discover their environment and encounter fantastical sea
creatures
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 have an immersive experience with lots of activities, transporting
visitors into another ‘world’ where they can embark on a grand
adventure
 enjoy a hands-on experience with interactive and engaging
displays
This turn-key exhibition will be relevant to the school curriculum with
strong links to the science syllabus through the built environment
(the built elements of the submarine and how things work) and the
natural environment (life cycles and the environment).
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Voyage to the Deep offers a wide range of experiences, from fullbody activities (e.g. a slide, climbing structures and crawl spaces), to
simple table-top activities and text panels.
There is no set path through the exhibition; visitors can find their
own way, according to their interests / ages.
The exhibition will be based around a mock up of a submarine.
There will also be activities outside the submarine in areas which
recreate the seafloor environment.
Nautilus Submarine
A fantastical kid-sized submarine to explore the oceans:
- Find out how submarines work.
- Investigate ocean life.
- See what it’s like to live on board.
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 Bridge / control room
The submarine’s control room:
- Drive the submarine
- Look through the periscopes
- Use the speaking tubes to talk to the rest of the crew
- Identify undersea sounds
 Salon
Research and explore ocean worlds:
- Dress up as a diver and go exploring
- Collect samples of sea creatures
- See weird and wonderful sea life
- Explore Captain Nemo’s Cabinet of Curiosities
- Play Captain Nemo’s bubbly pipe organ
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 Living quarters
Live the daily life of a submarine explorer:
- See what’s cooking in the galley – strange foods from the depths
- Delve into the shark’s belly to see what it ate
- Get to know the rest of the crew
- Take the test to see if you have what it takes to be a submariner
- Try out a bunk for size
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 Engine room
Where the power comes from:
- Crank the propeller
- Connect up the batteries to power the submarine
- Slide down the giant squid
- Race to stop the leaks
Ocean Worlds
Explore different ocean environments
 Shipwreck
A sunken galleon
- Crawl through the wreck and hunt for treasure
- Try to work out how it sunk
- See encrusted artefacts – can you tell what they use to be?
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 Coral reef
A colourful area for younger visitors
- Can you spot the camouflaged reef creatures?
- Crawl in the giant clam
- Drive the submarine’s dinghy
- Scrape the barnacles from the hull
 Kelp forest
A maze of sea weed fronds:
- See if you can find all the hidden creatures
- Push through the tree-like seaweed
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 Atlantis
A sunken city
- Can you decipher the ancient language?
- Write your name in ancient script
- Brush away the sand to reveal what’s hidden beneath
Audience
The proposed target audience is families with children aged 2-8
years. They are defined as ‘family fun seekers’ and those who see
‘learning as fun’.
Family Fun Seekers – mainly focused on outings that are fun and
entertaining for the whole family. Convenience, enjoyment and
interactive activities are important to them.
Learning is Fun – focused on outings suitable and fun for children but
for those who also appreciate elements of sophistication. Adults like
to go somewhere that makes them feel like a better parent for taking
their kids there.
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Space:
Optimal 400m2
Adaptable to 300m2
or larger than 400m2
Exhibition
Type:
Turn-key
Space:
Optimal 400m2
Adaptable to 300m2
or larger than 400m2
Size
Three 40ft containers/trucks
Content
Nautilus submarine
Four simulated ocean environments e.g.
a kelp forest, Atlantis, shipwreck and coral
reef
Interactive projections
Online resources developed with learning
and digital team
Look and feel
The design has been developed with a
steampunk aesthetic
Audience
Families with children aged 2-8 years of age
Support
material
Installation manual and exhibition resource
kit
Available
From May 2015
Price
Contact TravelEx@anmm.gov.au
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