# The Usage of Virtual and Augmented Reality in Underwater Archeology
## 5 Use of Augmented and Virtual Reality in Underwater Archeology--Example Solutions
### MeDryDive Project  
\"Dive in the Past\" is an educational game that allows you to simulate a virtual dive in the Mediterranean Sea and explore accurate 3D reconstructions of underwater archaeological sites. On the one hand, the application aims to engage divers and non-diving tourists in the virtual exploration of underwater archaeological sites through digital storytelling and in-game challenges, and on the other hand increase cultural awareness and archaeological knowledge of the heritage of the Mediterranean [105]. The game was developed as part of the MeDryDive project (COSME program), in which seven institutions from five European countries were involved: Italy, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania. The project was implemented in 2019-2022 [129]. Unlike most applications of this type, the project focused on providing a faithful and complete reconstruction of submerged archaeological sites, rather than on the entertainment side [105]. The application offers four archaeological sites for virtual exploration:  
* The World War II wreck Oreste was sunk by a mine in 1942 in Trsteno Bay, near Montenegro. The wreck lies in two parts at approximately 32 m [105]. * The 16 th-century wreck of Gnalic, sunk in 1583 near Biograd Na Moru, Croatia. The ship transported goods from Venice to Constantinople. Currently, the wreck lies at a depth of between 23 and 27 m [105]. * Ruins of the Roman city of Baiae, located near Naples, Italy. The site is a flooded area of 177 ha, with a wide range of diverse architectural structures located up to 15 m below sea level. These are facilities such as fishing and port infrastructure, thermal baths, residential buildings and villas. The project focused on the complex \"Villa con ingresso a protiro-Villa with vestibule\" (Figure 8), which was also an object in underwater works carried out as part of the iMARECULTURE project, and the Sunken Nymphaeum of Claudius [105; 124]. * The ancient wreck of the merchant ship Parister, which sank in the 5 th century AD and was carrying a large cargo of amphore. The wreck is located near the island of Alonisos, Greece. Currently, the wreck lies at a depth of between 22 and 28 m [105]. All four underwater archaeological sites included in the game are realistic 3D reconstructions. When visiting them, the user must conduct a kind of treasure hunt and at the same time get to know each of these objects in detail [105]. The game's time sequence follows the reverse chronological order of dating the archaeological sites. By visiting each of them, the user advances to subsequent levels of the game and at the same time gains historical, archaeological, and cultural information about underwater archaeological sites and the artifacts found there [105]. Additionally, the application, which has a plot and game scenarios, has been enriched with additional quizzes and mini-games that increase its educational value [105; 129]. The use of an appropriate narrative in the game increases user engagement and strengthens the educational message [26; 105]. \"Dive in the Past\" has been developed for both Android and iOS platforms, which allow users to play the game on smartphones and tablets. Additionally, it is also available in full VR technology, e.g., the \"Oculus Quest\" goggles [105]. Summary of the Current State and Possibilities of Development of Virtual Technologies in Underwater Archeology Applications  
Table 2 summarizes the most important virtual applications that have been developed for underwater archeology sites to date. It is worth noting that this is not a complete list,  
Figure 8: Visualizations from the game Dive in the Past (selected shots from promotional materials): (**a**) view of the ruins of the Roman city of Baiae from a diver’s perspective—a representation of the real state of the site; (**b**) a reconstruction of the archaeological site made in the game.