Thursday, 07 July 2011 14:32
Underwater Music Fest Features Tips On Reef Preservation
Written by Amy Tardif-
font size
decrease font size
increase font size
Several hundred divers and snorkelers are expected to submerge for the 27th annual Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival on Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary on Saturday.
The ocean- and water-themed selections ranging from the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" to humpback whale songs and "water music" created by local musicians are piped underwater via Lubell Laboratory speakers suspended beneath boats positioned above the reef. Organizers say the sound quality is clear, with an ethereal effect caused by the sound waves' transmission through water. READ MORE
Festival Founder and Director Bill Becker said music in water travels five times faster than in air, making it feel very interesting.
“Now in air you can generally tell a direction sound is coming from but when it travels so fast it arrives at both of your ears at about the same time so you can’t tell any direction so it sounds like the music is all around you. You’re not only just hearing it through your ears, you’re hearing it through your head and your jaw and your entire body. You can actually feel the music,” he said.
The Underwater Music Festival also carries a serious message of reef preservation. The broadcast incorporates diver public service announcements emphasizing ways to enjoy coral reefs while minimizing impacts on the underwater environment.
Divers and snorkelers can reserve space on boats or launch their own boats from public ramps and marinas in the area around Big Pine Key. The Underwater Music Fest is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.