The Hydrous

What The Hydrous does

The Hydrous is a US-based nonprofit founded in 2014 and headquartered in Sausalito, California, with a distributed team of 1-10 employees. Its stated mission is to create open access oceans by making marine environments explorable and understandable through immersive technology. The organization produces virtual reality, augmented reality, and 360-degree video experiences using a proprietary underwater photogrammetry pipeline that converts non-invasive 2D photographs into high-resolution, interactive 3D coral models. Core products include Immerse 360 (a guided VR dive of Palau), Explore VR (an interactive marine biology training experience on Oculus Quest 2), AR Reef (an augmented reality experience co-developed with the Smithsonian and Adobe Aero), the SSIRE synchronized dive event format, the Coral Reefs: A Learning Expedition in a Box physical education kit, and an open-access 3D coral model collection hosted on Sketchfab.

The Hydrous serves four primary customer segments: K-12 and higher education institutions, informal learning spaces such as aquaria, science museums, cruise lines, and PADI diving classes; individual learners and families; and ocean conservation advocates. Distribution is primarily product-led: free VR experiences are available on YouTube 360 and the Oculus Quest Store, while education kits and add-ons are sold through a direct e-commerce storefront at thehydro.us, and synchronized dive events are hosted at partner venues including National Geographic's virtual reality theater. Revenue is generated through a mix of one-time education kit sales, donations, and grant funding from the National Science Foundation (AISL program), National Geographic Society, and sponsorship from Power Engineering as Founding Kit Sponsor of the education kit.

The Hydrous is also an official program of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) under the Decade of Ocean Empathy initiative, providing institutional legitimacy and a programmatic mandate through 2030. Research collaborations with Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab, supported by NSF AISL funding, generate peer-reviewed evidence on the impact of immersive VR on ocean literacy and environmental empathy, which in turn feeds content and curriculum development. The organization has accumulated substantial brand recognition, including 2022 Webby Awards (Best Technical Achievement for Expedition Palau, Best Virtual Partner Experience for AR Reef), 2022 Anthem Awards, a 2021 Cannes World Film Festival Grand Winner designation, Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition for co-founder Sly Lee, and a 2023 Explorers Club honor for CEO Dr. Erika Woolsey.

Name

The Hydrous

Website

https://thehydro.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Hydrous is a nonprofit that builds immersive VR, AR, and 360-degree ocean education experiences using proprietary underwater photogrammetry, serving K-12 and higher education institutions, museums, families, and ocean conservation advocates globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Education

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Field Trips & Experiential Learning Environments (Museums, Geography, History) (EDAFAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

XR/AR/VR/MR Development Frameworks & Toolchains (MPAFAFAF)

Keywords

• Ocean education
• Immersive VR experiences
• Coral reef conservation
• Underwater photogrammetry
• Marine science outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Sausalito

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Education Kits Sales: Sale of physical education kits containing Dive Journal, Activity Cards, 3D printed Coral Model, VR Cardboard Viewer, and Hydrous Pin. Each kit costs $X and supports the organization's mission of creating open access oceans.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations to support experiences and mission of creating open access oceans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Hydrous is a nonprofit that produces immersive XR (VR/AR) ocean experiences, multi-modal education kits, 3D coral models, and an open-access ocean literacy collection. Its core products are virtual dives (Immerse 360, Explore VR, AR Reef), synchronized SSIRE events (Expedition Palau, Manta Ray Eden), and boxed Coral Reefs Learning Expedition kits combining a Dive Journal, Activity Cards, a 3D-printed coral model, and a VR viewer.

Product overview

The Hydrous is a nonprofit organization offering immersive ocean experiences and education products focused on ocean empathy and conservation. The core portfolio includes XR experiences (Immerse 360 VR dive, Explore VR marine biology training, AR Reef augmented reality, and synchronized dive events like Expedition Palau), educational products (the Coral Reefs Learning Expedition boxed kit with Dive Journal, Activity Cards, 3D Coral Model, and VR Viewer), 3D coral models available via Sketchfab, the Open Access Collections database, and the 21st Century Mermaids podcast. These products work together to bring ocean education to diverse audiences through scalable technologies, with several experiences developed through research partnerships with Stanford University and supported by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Immerse 360 A 360-degree virtual reality dive experience on the coral reefs of Palau guided by Chief Scientist Dr. Erika Woolsey, where users swim with manta rays, sea turtles, and sharks while learning about coral ecosystems through narration from marine scientists and ocean advocates.
• Explore VR An interactive virtual reality experience using six degrees of freedom (6 DoF) that allows users to train like marine biologists by tagging manta rays, monitoring ocean health from space, and measuring coral reef biodiversity. Available on Oculus Quest 2.
• AR Reef An augmented reality experience that allows users to grow a virtual coral reef in their room using their smartphone, created in collaboration with the Smithsonian and Adobe Aero using 3D scans of coral specimens from the National Museum of Natural History.
• Expedition Palau A shared, synchronized immersive reality experience (SSIRE) that brought global learners together for a virtual dive during World Oceans Week 2021 under the waters of Palau. Awarded a 2022 Webby Award for Best Technical Achievement.
• Manta Ray Eden A shared synchronized immersive reality experience hosted at National Geographic's virtual reality theater, bringing audience members under the waters of Palau with Dr. Erika Woolsey as guide.
• SSIRE (Shared, Synchronized, Immersive Reality Experience) An award-winning event format that brings participants together in person and/or virtually for a live-guided immersive experience at varying degrees of immersion based on technology available (VR headset, tablet, laptop, or phone). Powered by Meridian Treehouse and Showtime VR.
• 3D Coral Models High-resolution digital 3D models of corals created using photogrammetry, available on Sketchfab, free to download, and usable for scientific measurements, VR/AR experiences, or 3D printing. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian and California Academy of Sciences.
• Coral Reefs: A Learning Expedition in a Box A multi-modal boxed education kit for coral reef learning featuring a 122-page Dive Journal with 6 lessons, 4 sets of Activity Cards, a 3D printed Coral Model, a cardboard VR Viewer for smartphones, and a Hydrous Pin, including over 8 hours of learning content and recommended for ages 10 and up.
• 21st Century Mermaids Podcast A podcast dedicated to women blazing trails and fighting for the ocean, hosted by Danni Washington and featuring conversations with different ocean advocates each episode.
• Open Access Collections An open access database of ocean literacy and stewardship resources including 3D coral models, educational videos, research publications, and more.

Quantifiable outcome

• Living coral cover has decreased by approximately 50% in the last fifty years - The Hydrous addresses this through education and empathy-building experiences
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Decade of Ocean Empathy is an official program endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), addressing ocean challenges and outcomes globally.
• Stanford University Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the 'Advancing Ocean Literacy through Immersive Virtual Reality' research project, measuring the impact of immersive VR experiences on marine science learning, empathy, and self-efficacy. Supported by NSF AISL funding.
• Smithsonian InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on AR Reef project, contributing digital 3D coral reef specimen collection from the National Museum of Natural History created through their Digitization Program Office.
• AdobecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership on AR Reef using Adobe Aero creative augmented reality toolkit to bring 3D coral models to life with animated marine life in users' environments.
• Inverness ResearchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal evaluation partner conducting research evaluation for the Advancing Ocean Literacy through Immersive Virtual Reality project.
• Horizon ProductionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partner for Explore VR content creation combining underwater 360° video and CGI animation.
• Meridian TreehousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperience design partner for SSIRE events and shared synchronized immersive reality experiences, including the award-winning Expedition Palau.
• Showtime VRsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner enabling SSIRE platform for synchronized virtual dive events with global audiences.
• California Academy of SciencessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on digitizing museum collections and creating 3D coral models, bringing back-of-house treasures to the public.
• National GeographiccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for Manta Ray Eden synchronized dive event at National Geographic's virtual reality theater. Features Dr. Erika Woolsey as National Geographic Explorer.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• OceanX: OceanX is a marine exploration and media organization producing high-quality underwater film, VR content, and ocean science storytelling with academic and tech partners. Directly comparable to Hydrous in combining deep-sea media production with immersive/XR formats aimed at public ocean literacy.
• Ocean Conservancy: Ocean Conservancy is a major U.S. ocean conservation nonprofit running public engagement, education, and policy programs. A direct peer in mission and funding category (non-profit ocean advocacy), competing for the same donor and grant dollars and policy attention.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Monterey Bay Aquarium is a leading ocean education institution with exhibits, K-12 curricula, and digital learning programs. A direct peer in ocean literacy and informal ocean education, increasingly deploying immersive and digital formats in parallel with Hydrous.
• Coral Restoration Foundation: Coral Restoration Foundation is a nonprofit focused on coral reef restoration, education, and public engagement. A direct peer in coral-specific ocean mission and non-profit funding model, with overlapping donor and partner ecosystems to Hydrous.

Broad incumbents

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): WWF is a global incumbent conservation organization with ocean programs, public engagement, and major donor networks. Comparable as a broad ocean-conservation incumbent that increasingly uses immersive digital content for fundraising and education.
• Discovery / Discovery VR: Discovery has produced immersive VR/360° ocean and nature content under the Discovery VR banner. A broad incumbent with substantially larger production budgets targeting the same consumer-plus-education market for nature and ocean XR experiences.
• National Geographic Society: National Geographic is a global incumbent in ocean exploration, education, and grantmaking. It is both a Hydrous partner (host venue, grant funder) and a broader incumbent producing its own immersive and educational ocean content at far greater scale.

Emerging players

• Labster: Labster provides immersive VR science simulations deployed in higher-ed and high school settings. Comparable to Hydrous in commercializing VR as a science-education modality for institutional buyers, though focused on broader STEM rather than ocean-specific content.
• Merge EDU: Merge EDU builds AR/VR tools and hands-on learning kits (Merge Cube, Merge Explorer) sold directly to schools and families. Comparable to Hydrous's Coral Reefs Education Kit in combining XR devices with packaged curriculum for K-12 ocean and STEM education.
• Within (VR storytelling platform): Within is a VR-native storytelling platform distributing premium immersive short films and documentaries. Comparable to Hydrous as a distribution and storytelling channel for cinematic VR ocean content aimed at engaged consumer audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thehydrous

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Hydrous