- Upon leaving the outer lock of Omen Island in your mini-sub Dolphin you will be in the company of the companion Dolphin that accompanies the explorer every time they near the beach or enter the water
- The sea side of the artificial island presents a room with a small metal, dolphin inspired, miniature submarine, hanging over water
- walking down the ramp to the dolphin animates the opening of the cock pit hatch and you into the seat
- The dolphin lowers and the cockpit closes
- the slight hum of electricity (too low to hear when moving underwater) and movement of propellers
- The nose dips and slide diagonally into the water and through a wall opening out of the lagoon - you are now free in the ocean surrounding Nemo's Mind - You will discover a high tide access to underground river that splits into the river of life and the river of death - one leading underground to a failed nuclear lab and one leading to the river that goes through the "Misted Jungle" to the enclosed waterfall (water locks allow you to rise through the plate glass column up the cliff rift to the underground sequence that includes the condensation sphere (successful nuclear?)
- mini-sub is in the shape of a dolphin with the top half glass - all lighting for the mini-sub Dolphin comes from 2 diffused light panels inside the sub - one on the ceiling and one on the floor - this will give great shadow casting of the spars (from reinforcing the glass cockpit) - each min sub in a party would have its own color light casting from the cockpit for differentiating - so as you go through the grotto or along the floor in a deep area or through the underground river the shadows will play on the surface of all passing structures
- steering will move the mechanical fins (side fins) to act as planes to turn - direct both fins down to climb etc - one cool effect of turning one fin up or down is the pivoting turn that will tilt the whole min-sub off of horizontal until the fin is turned flat to the direction of momentum, so a cool re leveling after letting up or down on the control - steering by manipulating 2 separate planes will be just difficult enough that non-gamers will feel like real pilots
- propulsion is 2 internal tubes along the sides of Dolphin with multiple chained propellers (not efficient but pretty) to force water out the back across the horizontal tail
- imagine the fun of a group of mini-sub Dolphins
- in a school of participants in their dolphins (although room for up to 4 in one) you can see the graceful movements and use of fins etc. - imagine the engine that could someday handle the play of shadowing and light thrown off by a school of 6 Dolphins
- top of subs slide back upon full surfacing so nose tilts up when the weight of upper part shifts back - the detailing would take the users by surprise
- underwater grotto is the source of salt water for the condensation sphere but a barrier that a real dolphin can get through - but not the mini-sub - the route can only be opened from the condensation sphere side (other side) by mini-sub and then can access this area from the ocean by mini-sub
- it is mostly glass to facilitate seeing all around - this is great for exploring the underwater dream structures and the sub locks
- An artifact placed into a receptacle changes or personalizes the color of the explorer's Dolphin
- the way back to your personal mini-sub if left at the dream/condensation sphere is only through the help of another through either the salt water access to the condensation sphere or the river of life or the bonsai enclosure
Keep Following the Trail..