An alternative way of discovering the underwater fauna and flora of the Mediterranean

This is a hardcopy publication entitled «Guide d’identification et d’observation, Faune et flore sous-marine de la Méditerranée », produced by the Association Déclic Bleu.   The authors, all experienced divers with a passion for underwater photography and videography, have offered their professional expertise to this fun but ambitious project featuring paper-based publications as well as other types of media.  

Using a smartphone or tablet, after downloading the « découvrir autrement » application, it is possible, thanks to augmented reality technology, to instantly access 3D images which enables you to observe close to 150 species, to handle them, move them around and see them develop in their environment.  From the octopus waving its tentacles to the undulating seabreamto the starfish which moves thanks to its hundred suction feet, this book is a wonderful opportunity to rediscover various species with which we are familiar.

Augmented reality is THE true originality of this project. It is a fun introduction to technical and scientific information, such as the distribution and regulations concerning each species. Additional photos and videos are also accessible.

This book is also interactive. The creators of the book have included links via which readers, if they wish, can also become players by taking part in data acquisition regarding the state of the marine environment.  For example, for scientific projects such as those conducted on the Pelagos site, any pleasure boat, fisherman or diver may notify the presence of the marine mammals they have observed.