Kids wide-eyed in wonder on virtual dive in Narooma's Wagonga Inlet

Narooma kids dived at the chance to explore the clear blue waters of Wagonga Inlet without getting wet.

Through a live feed, they saw rays, trevally and bream, turtles, wobbegongs, cormorants as agile under the water as the fur seals, and an endangered seagrass that flourishes in Narooma’s pristine waters.

They watched video footage of seahorses dancing in the seagrass, and from microscopy on screen they could see miniature lobsters and other critters on the blades of seagrass not visible to the naked eye.

The children were blown away by the rich and colourful marine life that is usually only accessible with a mask and snorkel, and, eventually, very cold hands. One mother said her daughter had not stopped talking about it.

Using underwater drone technology, Dive and Draw combines science and art, blending education with fun.

All five of the one-day workshops in late January were booked out and had waitlists.

Through her business Catfish Creative, Cat Leach does a lot of illustrations and drawings and wanted to do more work with children.

When the designer, diver and ocean-lover heard about grant funding for grassroots projects from the Fire to Flourish program at Monash University, she thought it would be lovely to do an ocean-inspired workshop with Aboriginal kids, in particular.

The idea developed further when she bumped into drone pilot Dave Rowland.

“I thought the ocean-based inspiration could be a drone so the kids can see underneath the water instead of taking them diving,” Ms Leach said. “Fire to Flourish was very receptive.”

Barb Rix, Indigenous facilitator of Eurobodalla Fire to Flourish, liked the accessibility aspect of Dive and Draw.

“So many kids can’t dive because they have a disability or can’t swim,” she said. “That accessibility makes it so everyone can have that experience.”

As the drone visited various sites including mangroves and seagrass meadows through the live feed, marine scientists from Submerged Entertainment Australia explained to the children what they were seeing.

One was with the children in Catfish Creative’s co-working space, The Fish Tank, in Narooma, and another spoke to the children from Victoria.

He showed them footage from other waterways that showed how clean Wagonga Inlet was in comparison. Without any surrounding agricultural land, there is no chemical runoff.

Some footage had been magnified 1000 times to show how many creatures lived on a single blade of seagrass. Some graze on seagrass like cows in a paddock.

Cultural educators Wally Stewart, Brock Tutt and Sean Kinchela told the children stories about Sea Country and the Aboriginal names for various birds and fish.

Mr Tutt said the drone was moving over land that was once lived on.

“In the centre of Batemans Bay, you can see the old river channels where people used to fish, and we have found tools made from rocks on the seafloor,” he said. “People need to understand how long Sea Country has been looked after and cared for.”

After lunch the children went to a workshop facilitated by Ms Leach, Mr Tutt, Mr Kinchela, and Sarah Moreton. They drew and painted, inspired by what they had seen on their interactive virtual dive.

Ms Leach hopes their artwork can be exhibited to the public with the theme of Wagonga Inlet through the eyes of children.

She is co-designing with the children how their work will be displayed. It may take the form of a book and may be exhibited as part of NAIDOC Week.

“I am never surprised by children’s curiosity, but I have been surprised by the themes that have come out of their art, like really intricate drawings of the seafloor,” Ms Leach said.

She said so many possibilities had emerged from Dive and Draw.

“In some ways it is unguided. We have the whole day, so the kids have lots of time to explore and express themselves through their art.”