“You Won’t Believe It, But I Communicate Better Than You Beneath the Waves”: AI-Based 2D Video Training for Inclusive SCUBA Diving Education

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The purpose of the Silent Bubble project is to assist in social inclusion, well-being and environmental sustainability through supporting individuals with hearing impairments (IwHI) to enter into Recreational Scuba Diving (RSD). Silent Bubble capitalizes on the facts that IwHI’s underwater ‘hand signals’ act as the equivalent to spoken words in the ocean and use that to provide an inclusive, physically active space that leads to personal growth and marine conservation. The project complements the EU’s efforts to achieve the objectives of Health enhancing physical activity, digital transformation and environmental sustainability within the European Disability Strategy 2021–2030. Three core objectives for the Silent Bubble are (1) to extend high quality, flexible, sustainable learning and teaching opportunities relevant to IwHI and scuba professionals, (2) to advance RSD as a tool for improving well-being according to PERMA model (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment), while (3) creating environmental awareness through ocean conservation education. The Silent Bubble leverages AI based 2D animation tutorial, AI based adaptive learning platform and AI based VR/AR simulations that offer them personalized training experience, increased accessibility, help in digital inclusion. The project is a transnational endeavor undertaken by Türkiye, Croatia, Italy, and Portugal based on quantitative and qualitative research to analyze the impact of the RSD on the IwHI’s well-being. This can lead to the development of AI based well-being prediction model, identification of well-being biomarkers and an e handbook of good practices for scuba professionals. Towards the end of the event, a large scale RSD event takes place in Bodrum, Türkiye with the aim to raise awareness for the non-inclusive recreation and sustainable practices at sea.