VIDEO: Rock music fans get into deep water in underwater concert
Such songs as the theme from The Little Mermaid, the Beatles’ ‘Yellow Submarine’, and Jimmy Buffett’s ‘Fins’ entertained listeners during the four-hour session at the so-called Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival, at Looe Key Reef.
Snorkellers ‘jammed’ underwater on mock guitars or pretended to play 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,” Nyad said.
“You couldn’t hear it this well if you were in a concert sitting in the front row.”
In September, 2013, Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Key West without a shark cage. She sang to distract herself on the 160km swim. One of the songs from Nyad’s personal soundtrack, Janis Joplin’s ‘Me and Bobby McGee’, was played in her honour at the concert.
Looe Key Reef is part of the continental US’s only living coral barrier reef, 9.6km south of Big Pine Key, Florida.
“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,” said WWUS radio station news director and festival founder Bill Becker.
Staged by WWUS, in partnership with a local chamber of commerce, the festival featured music specially programmed for the aquatic listening experience.
Accompanying the tunes were coral-reef conservation messages and tips on environmentally friendly diving practices.
