Virtual reality and ecotourism: Exploring and preserving our underwater heritage

The Isole Tremiti in Italy's Adriatic Sea welcome 100,000 tourists every year. But many visitors miss some of the archipelago's best attractions: the archaeological sites submerged under the clear waters surrounding the islands.

A team of researchers, led by Fabio Bruno from the University of Calabria, is on a mission to unveil these hidden treasures.

"Not everyone can access underwater cultural heritage as it requires diving to see it," Fabio Bruno explained. "To make this immense heritage known to the general public, it is crucial to use multimedia technologies that enable visitors to explore these sites and comprehend their significance." 

We join the team of the European project CREAMARE as they embark on their mission at one of Italy's most significant shipwrecks. 

The team includes archaeologists, historians, and specialists in computer technology, determined to make the underwater archaeological site beneath our boat accessible to everyone through a highly detailed 3D model.

Our dive uncovers the remains of 'Lombardo,' a 19th-century steamship used by the legendary Giuseppe Garibaldi.

The vessel, which played a crucial role in the Risorgimento movement, sank and was lost over 160 years ago. It wasn't until the early 2000s that Italian archaeologists stumbled upon these historic remains.

The project team is creating a digital snapshot of the entire site.

"Digitising and creating a three-dimensional model of this wreck will enable those who cannot dive, who aren't able to go underwater, to experience a virtual dive similar to that of real divers," said Salvatore Medaglia, an archaeologist at the University of Calabria. 

The researchers employ the method of photogrammetry, capturing a series of still shots using a relatively