Visual Arts + Tech

Thalassophobia VR

Michael Stevens

This project is an immersive virtual reality experience designed to simulate the vast and often unsettling environment of the open ocean. Through a carefully crafted underwater landscape, Stevens aims to provoke thalassophobia—the fear of deep or open water—by placing viewers in a space that feels both beautiful and deeply isolating. Drawing from a personal snorkeling experience that triggered intense fear, Michael Stevens uses this project to recreate the overwhelming sensation of vulnerability he felt while suspended above the unknown. By combining realistic visuals, sound design, and spatial immersion, the piece invites viewers to confront the emotional weight of the ocean’s depth and mystery.