SME Universe | The Super Aqua Club will host the first immersive aquatic tunnel

Like an underground river, through a long cave whose walls would serve as a screen for animated 3D projections.

Marc Tison
The Press

The Pointe-Calumet Super Aqua Club will be the first water park in the world to set up the DreamTunnelan immersive attraction designed by Montreal-based Vortex Aquatic Structures International.

“We decided to take one of our attractions, a slow river that was very old, and give it a new, more modern and technological vocation,” says Nadine St-Amant, president of the Super Aqua Club. “Instead of it being a quiet little course with water games, visitors will be able to have an immersive experience through this course. »

Immersive in the sense of diving into a virtual universe, and not into the liquid element.

Placed on a channel that is traversed by inflatable tori – commonly called tubes –, this tunnel is lit by LED lights and laser projections that make up 3D animations, through a fine mist of droplets in suspension.

“It is this coordination of graphic elements that creates this uniqueness and this innovative effect for an aquatic attraction, explains the president. What makes us really proud is that we will be the first to have this technology. »

The peaceful aquatic attraction, thus reinvigorated, will change its name from Marais to Rivière Zéphyr.

Among the four main themes proposed by Vortex, the water park chose that of the jungle, to which it asked that a touch of magic be added. The programming of the animation, which will feature plants, animals and butterflies, is underway.

While the crossing will take about thirty seconds, the animation in the tunnel will extend over five minutes, from sunrise over the jungle to moonrise, allowing users to multiply passages without reliving the same experience. .

An unexpected acquisition

Vortex had unveiled its DreamTunnel at the IAAPA Amusement Parks Association Expo, held in Orlando last November.

A few days earlier, Nadine St-Amant had visited the Pointe-Claire plant, with the intention of acquiring a water feature. “There was a prototype of the DreamTunnel in the factory, she says. They decided to show us the experience, and we really fell in love, for the technology, but also with the team. »

The agreement was concluded last February.

The tunnel, a 75 ft (23 m) long construction, is to be laid on a straight section of the canal. “We had to completely remove a section of our river and recreate the concrete, to come and sit a structure that is still quite imposing, with all the audio components of the project. »

A first

This tunnel is a breakthrough: it is the first – and for the moment the only – project of DreamTunnel started by Vortex.

The project requires an investment of 1.3 million for the tunnel itself, plus half a million for improvements to the route – new water games, technical upgrades, heated water. “Ultimately, we will have invested nearly 1.8 million. It is still considerable. »

President since May 2019, Nadine St-Amant will begin her fourth summer season, which will be launched on June 17. The new attraction should be inaugurated a few days later.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” she said. We had examples with the children of the employees who tested the prototype, and to see their faces, I can’t wait to see the faces of mine. »

Her children, aged 4 and 6, will be among the first to try out the immersive attraction. “My children, it’s my inspiration, it’s what keeps me going in the company. »

Because a deep inspiration is necessary before any immersion.

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