From KSBW.

Seaside, Calif. – April 1, 2025 –  Several juvenile detention centers on the Central Coast have introduced a virtual reality program, focused on marine science.

The immersive experience will allow incarcerated kids to virtually dive through the open water, all while learning more about the underwater world.

Lindholm shared his inspiration behind the virtual reality program that originated after two students who enrolled in his class developed epilepsy, barring them from scuba diving ever again. He wanted to give those unable to join the program a new way to collect marine data.

“I’ve just been spending my entire career saying, try to imagine this, and now we don’t have to try to imagine anything. You put the headset on and they don’t have to imagine anything, they are there,” Lindholm said.

…Now, after being awarded funds through a Whale Tail Grant, the virtual reality program is headed behind bars. Here, it will give juvenile youth a full 360-experience to see what it’s like to be underwater, through the eyes of a diver.

“This is a really cool activity to help them not only just have a fun experience but also learn something about data collection and, in theory, prepare them for a variety of different training opportunities after they get out,” said Lindholm.

The program goes deeper than its impact on younger generations. Lindholm’s mom was a juvenile probation officer while he was growing up, allowing him to become familiar with the juvenile judicial system.

“This opportunity personally is a chance for me to marry my marine science experience with my mom’s kind of background. When we go behind bars, everybody is enthusiastic, they’re excited from the moment we arrive, they’re just desperate for some activity,” said Lindholm.

Lindholm and his team all record and edit their footage. Two of his members are his students who learned how to scuba dive through CSUMB’s Program. They will be joining Lindholm at the juvenile detention centers, to share what they’ve learned out in the water.

….

Alex Weatherford is a research student and video editor for the virtual reality program. He’s excited to share his love for editing and scuba diving.

“That would be super cool if someone came into this program because they saw these videos, whether that’s high school or juvenile hall. That would be really neat to see.”

Lindholm and his team have extended their program to a new group of users… The program is currently in the pilot stage.

Read the full article here.