Whenver Dizzy Banjo sends me somewhere I usually end up letting you all know about a new LM of the Day. After a quick tour of Cocos Island, a virtual tourism project for the Costa Rica Tourist Board, I knew that I had to get this to you sooner rather than later. I love seeing new places in SL, and I particularly love it when they engage all my senses. Not only are my eyes catching all the lovely creations of Grace Loudon, but my ears are thoroughly absorbed as Dizzy's created a soundtrack here for the two sim build. The underwater work of Kaikou Splash can also be seen here, as he's contributed one of the largest undersea S.C.U.B.A. locations in SL.

When you first arrive the landing station allows you to browse pictures and images of Cosos Island. Then you'll take a teleport to a lovely boat with dolphins jumping past. On this boat, you'll find a life raft where you'll sit to enjoy a journey teleport to the main island. Once there you'll be as amazed as I was with the flora, fauna, sounds, and people.

The build has been developed to promote Cocos Island as a new natural wonder of the world. You can even vote at http ://www.new7 wonders.com for the real Cocos Island. Below you will find excerpts of the press release, which does a much better job of detailing the build.

Cocos Island, an unmatched, uninhabited rain forest oasis in the Pacific Ocean and New Natural 7 Wonders of Nature nominee for Costa Rica, will premiere in the virtual world of Second Life® (SL) as the first replicated island built on the site. The launch, taking place February 7, 2009, will be the first in a series of initiatives sponsored by the Costa Rica Tourist Board (ICT) designed to raise awareness about the island and the ecological significance to the island’s marine conservation.

The Cocos Island replica on SL was built with the support of the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation (FAICO) www.cocosisland.com with never before seen SL technology, allowing users to experience the island’s elements and learn more about its ecological significance. The site will introduce users to the wonders of Cocos Island through the most extensive marine world ever built on the site, which includes schools of sharks, an array of fish, spotted eagle rays and coral reefs, among others. “As we live in a more globalized era, we continue to look for ways to use these digital tools as a way of raising awareness of the issues that affect us all at an international level,” says Maria Amalia Revelo, Marketing Director for the ICT. “Over the past 30 years Costa Rica has dedicated itself to preserving its land and we are now looking beyond our borders and into the ocean. Through our virtual creation of Cocos Island we hope to be able to bring its beauty to the rest of the world and create a consciousness for the threats which the ocean and the rest of the world faces,” she says.

Designed to be a reality meets fantasy adventure, users can visit a replica of the island’s park ranger station and can get information about the Foundation and the environmental issues they as well as cast a vote for Cocos Island to be one of the New Natural 7 Wonders of the World at www.new7wonders.com. As the user explores the island they will be surrounded by the nearly unscathed environment of Cocos, filled with flora and endemic wildlife such as the Espiritu Santo birds and the Cocos Island cuckoo.

I'd like to take a moment to thank Dizzy Banjo for pointing me in the direction of Cocos Island, as well as allowing for the link to his photos from his flickr site. You can also see a machinima of the project done by Ariella Furman at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTZswGvvTNg