Underwater music on Key
HUNDREDS of musicloving snorkellers and divers have ducked beneath the waves as a radio station broadcast a concert underwater at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Such songs as the theme from The Little Mermaid, The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine and Jimmy Buffett’s Fins entertained listeners during the four- hour music session.
Some snorkellers pretended to jam underwater on mock guitars or play other fake instruments such as a whimsical fish flute. Others wore costumes depicting mermaids and seahorses as music sounded from waterproof speakers suspended beneath boats.
“To be immersed in the sea and feel the music coming from underneath instead of through headphones – it’s very magical and distinct,” swimmer Diana Nyad said. “You couldn’t hear it this well if you were in a concert sitting in the front row.”
In 2013, Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Key West without a shark cage, singing to herself as motivation for the more than 160- kilometre swim.
One of the songs from Nyad’s soundtrack, Me and Bobby McGee, was played in her honour on Saturday.
The underwater festival took place at Looe Key Reef, part of the US’ only living coral barrier reef, south of Big Pine Key.
“This is a way for people to really appreciate the coral reef while at the same time listening to an environmental message about coral protection,” explained WWUS radio station news director and festival founder Bill Becker.