Dian Novian, Ratna Wardani
The high cost, inherent risks, and limited accessibility of scuba diving significantly restrict public participation in underwater tourism activities. Virtual Reality (VR) technology offers a promising solution by providing safe, cost-effective, and immersive alternatives for experiencing underwater environments. This study developed and evaluated a VR scuba diving simulator designed to educate tourists about underwater activities and enhance their knowledge and perceptions of marine tourism. Using the Multimedia Development Life Cycle (MDLC) methodology, an immersive VR scuba diving application was systematically developed through six phases: concept, design, material gathering, assembly, testing, and distribution. The application was validated by three experts (one instructional design professional and two VR developers) and aligned with POSSI (Persatuan Olahraga Selam Seluruh Indonesia) Level 1/Open Water certification standards. Two hundred tourists (mean age 26.4 years, 52% male, 48% female; 38% had prior diving experience) participated in testing the VR Scuba Simulator to assess its educational impact on underwater tourism perception. A structured questionnaire measured three perception dimensions: cognitive (knowledge), affective (emotional), and conative (behavioural intention). Results revealed exceptionally high tourist perceptions across all dimensions, with an overall mean score of 92.41%. The cognitive dimension achieved 93.19%, indicating strong knowledge acquisition about scuba diving and underwater ecosystems. The affective dimension scored 93.59%, demonstrating positive emotional engagement and environmental appreciation. The conative dimension reached 90.46%, suggesting strong behavioural intention to participate in actual scuba diving activities. These findings confirm that the VR scuba diving simulator effectively enhances tourist understanding, emotional connection, and behavioural motivation toward underwater tourism. The consistently high scores across all perception dimensions demonstrate VR technology's significant potential as an educational and promotional tool for sustainable marine tourism development. © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Gorontalo State University, Gorontalo, Indonesia; Yogyakarta State University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
