In the Pacific, a music festival is held where you can stage dive, quite literally!
Music festivals have been taking it to the next level. But, an underwater festival? Sounds strange, doesn’t it? That is exactly what’s happening in Florida. The recently concluded 29th edition of The Lower Keys Music Festival took place in Looe Key Reef, an area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
The marine musical event is staged by Florida’s Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce and US1 Radio. The Underwater Music Festival brought 300 divers and snorkel-wearing swimmers to the waters of the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, where, as the name suggests, tunes could be heard underwater.
This annual event is designed to raise awareness about the coral reef. While participants may wield instruments with odd, marine-inspired embellishments, the music is, in fact, piped into the water via speakers. Even the fishes seem to be enjoying the sounds created by the local artists performing here.
The music is broadcast underwater via Lubell Laboratory speakers suspended beneath boats positioned above the reef. This year’s theme was titled ‘Salute to The Rolling Stone Crabs’ to commemorate the Rolling Stones 50th anniversary.
In the words of festival founder Bill Becker, “Music underwater has a real-ethereal feel to it. You don’t just hear it through your ears, you hear it through your whole body — through your jawbone, through your skull.”
The Sherp thinks this is a great way to incorporate coral reef awareness as well as diving skills along with the universal catalyst, music!
Annual Underwater Music Festival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqTWMZq2M6A