US Florida underwater concert

A one-of-a-kind undersea concert spotlighted reef protection Saturday.

The 39th annual Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival was held at Looe (pronounced Lou) Key Reef, an area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary south of Big Pine Key. The sanctuary protects the waters surrounding the entire Keys island chain.

The event was presented by the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce and staged by US1 Radio 104.1 FM. Music broadcast by the radio station was piped underwater via speakers suspended beneath boats that were positioned above the reef. While the festival offered a unique experience, its primary purpose was to inform participants about eco-conscious diving practices and ways they can help protect the Keys’ reef ecosystem.

The broadcast featured public service diver awareness messages about how to enjoy the reef responsibly while minimizing negative environmental impacts.