Virtual Reality Miracle Monster or just another media?

http://netzspannung.org/cat/servlet/CatServlet?cmd=netzkollektor&subCommand=showEntry&entryId=79453&lang=en

It is interesting that they are using virtual reality to put people more in touch with marine wildlife for those who don't get a chance to go scuba diving. This has a both a serene and an unsettling experience.
This is a serene experience in that it gets people to experience a peaceful underwater paradise that has all kinds of sea creatures. It is unsettling because there is also a heavy environmental message that people get out of it.
However the idea of virtual reality with those people just sitting there scares me a bit. There is actually very little interactivity except for in virtual space. Are we going to sit there like bumps on a log lazily not participating in anything? Are we going to stop working and be slaves to the machine?
However I guess it is not that different from watching T.V. I am not sure whether virtual reality is a bad thing or not I guess it depends what it is used for. I guess it is like any other machine it can be used and abused.