PW-MAR20-44-45-Attraction-Profile.qxp_Feature 30/03/2020 15:43 Page 45
Attraction Profile
www.parkworld-online.com
underwater diving experience,” offers Brandt. “As America’s largest water park resorts, we are constantly keeping ahead of technology and with our relationship with Ballast Technologies, we had an upper hand in bringing this technology to the United States where to this day we hold the exclusive rights to the tech.” In fact, Kalahari received six months of 50-mile
radius regional exclusivity for each installation. Exclusivity in the Poconos has now expired and will soon expire in Wisconsin Dells and Sandusky.
Multiple Experiences Kalahari’s DIVR system offers the opportunity to explore two worlds, underwater ocean diving and outer space. Underwater, the sensation of weightlessness and the deprivation of your senses transports guests fully into these experiences. There are not only sights, but also sounds to complete the experience with state-of-the art haptic speakers built into the VR mask that allow one to "hear" underwater. A floatation belt is strapped to your waist to help keep you afloat, and it is in turn strapped to an anchor to maintain your location in the pool Since July 2017 when Stephen Greenwood
founded Ballast Technologies the company has delivered over 430,000 paid location-based experiences in five countries. When submerged in water with a zero-gravity sensation, virtual reality makes guests feel as if they are flying through magical worlds. The space required within the Kalahari waterpark
is minimal. “We can achieve maximum results in a very small space,” confirms Brandt. “A very small pool can be configured easily. Currently participants are tethered to an elastic rope and a comfortable harness. When they engage the VR sequences, a common comment is, ‘I felt like I floated around for miles underwater!’ The human brain processes the experience as if you were active in the sequence in real time and the virtual space created.” “With our current set-ups at all three Kalahari Resorts,
we’re opening our fourth in November, we can comfortably get up to 36 people (per hour) through,” Brandt adds. “As we now have multiple experiences - Coral Reef, Space Station Expedition, Bottom of the Sea, and even Skydiving - we are seeing guests coming back to do it again and again. As we began
this mission, Stephen and I wanted to make sure that the experience was a minimal cost to our guests. Basically, we wanted to cover expenses; $10.00 for our basic package and $15.00 for the complete package. It has been a win-win for Ballast and Kalahari.”
VR Water Slide Ballast Technologies currently offers clients three different five-minute experiences. During Drift Dive, participants go on a drift dive through the most amazing parts of the ocean, visiting underwater wrecks, caves and submarines. They can hang out with Manta Rays, sharks, and be mesmerized by a pod of singing Humpback Whales. On Journey to Atlantis, Aiden, a friendly neighborhood seal takes visitors on a trip through his lair. They help him through dangerous waters with mysterious creatures so he can guide them to the fabled entrance of the lost city of Atlantis. The third experience, Space Flight, allows guests to float high above the earth, through asteroids, and past the Hubble Space Telescope. They will visit the abandoned space station to find out what happened here. Brandt is convinced his guests will enjoy the Virtual
Reality. “Quite simply, it’s like nothing anyone has ever experienced. We have had professional scuba divers comment that they felt they were in the coral reefs and the sensation was remarkably true to life. The ability to survey the world underneath the surface of the ocean is eye-opening. A mix of tranquility and adventure of the likes not previously known.” The public’s reaction, he says, is amazing. “I love
going to the water parks and watching the expressions on faces when they come out of the pool. For the
DIVR System Each DIVR system includes an underwater VR
headset with built-in audio, a wireless charging station, and pre-installed content experiences and proprietary Triton software. There is an
NFC launcher card, snorkel with replaceable mouthpiece, extra reusable snorkel
mouthpieces, and a floatation belt, swim tether, and anchor. An upgrade to DIVR+ adds a
transportable weatherproof box with wheels and handle, thruster assembly with special effects, mount, and connectors, and
programmable motor controls, special effect
pneumatic valve controls, a first stage regulator, pressure gauge, air line with quick disconnect fittings, and power supply cable.
MARCH 2020
adults, they feel like kids again, and for the kids, they are in awe. Which is pretty amazing with all the digital platforms kids have access to these days. What is really great is the social side. They tell the people in their group or family, or even folks having dinner about it, and sure enough, they come check it out. VR is tough at some level. Either you have had a VR experience, or you have not. It’s been my experience that once we get you into the world of Kalahari VR, you will come back to see what’s next. That being said, Kalahari is dedicated to many new levels of VR technology at our resorts. Next for Stephen and I…
..Virtual Reality Water Slide. Coming very soon. Hopefully one day he and I will tackle the Lazy River.”
Bubble Effects Brandt has experienced DIVR many times and loves it each time he does. The best part, he believes is: “The total separation from reality. With the imagery, the haptic speakers, the warm water, it’s an experience like no other. We are looking to how we can incorporate the serene elements into our Spas. There
is so much Virtual Reality has to offer. It’s an exciting time for Kalahari and Ballast! “Stephen is a true visionary,” asserts Brandt. “He
took an idea and made it a reality. Then he took that reality and grew it into a viable company. You will be hearing a lot more about Stephen Greenwood in the future, that I am certain of. I am proud to be working with him andhis company. The sky’s the limit! He developed the tech that allows the experience to be painless and easy to operate and experience. That is a tall order in a water park environment. Making VR easy to experience is key to its success. Ballast is a pioneer in this tech. The simple fact that these attractions are in all three, soon four, of our resorts is a testament to Stephen’s work ethic.” Ballast’s partner, Sub Sea Systems, offers an
upgrade, the DIVR+ version, with thruster and sensory bubble effects. Brandt likes it. “We have carved out space at our (Round Rock) Texas property for this experience. Our team has had the opportunity to try Sub Sea Systems and it is a natural extension of the DIVR experience.” “The total immersion into an environment not yet
tapped,” concludes Brandt. “Your senses whenyou are underwater are completely different than when you are sitting in a chair, for instance. The sense of weightlessness combined with stunning HD VR graphics gives the viewer a whole new perspective on perceived reality. I am certain that this technology will have possibilities with scuba diving training, underwater rescue, deep sea diving, and so forth. We are just at the front end of what is possible.”
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