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Get ready for the Florida Keys’ 30th Annual Underwater Music Festival this Saturday

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Hundreds of snorkellers and divers will converge on the Florida Lower Keys this coming Saturday 12th July for the 30th Annual Underwater Music Festival. The submerged songfest, held at Looe Key Reef, combines music, the arts, and reef preservation awareness into a surreal immersion experience. Here are some of the offerings that make this undersea jam session one of the most delightfully offbeat marine events around.

A different kind of Surround Sound: The festival’s subaqueous music broadcast is made possible by underwater speakers suspended from boats, and the ocean-themed soundtrack includes such tunes as the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,” Jimmy Buffett’s “Fins,” and theme’s from Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Hearing the playlist through the water is a peculiar experience. “Sound underwater travels five times faster than it does in the air,” says festival founder Bill Becker. “It just sort of surrounds you. You can hear it not only through your ears; you can feel it through your jaw and your head.”

Ethereal performances: Snorkel and scuba aficionados can watch costumed divers perform to the music. This year’s festival theme, “Diving with the Stars,” is sure to be an otherworldly spectacle. “We’re expecting our divers to be dressed in beautiful flowing garments and cavorting around the ocean floor—not touching the reef, of course,” says Susan Miller, Executive Director of the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce.

In years past, underwater performers have ranged from diving Elvis Presley look-a-likes to a “Submerged Symphony” playing mock instruments. A recent election year performance featured divers clad as flag-waving U.S. presidents followed by a trail of Secret Service agents garbed in hats, jackets, and sunglasses.

Signature artwork: Each year, local artist August Powers crafts a new faux musical instrument for costumed divers to “play” underwater, thus enhancing the show’s visual elements. His past sea-inspired creations have included a “clambourine,” a “sax-eel-phone,” and a “Great White Harp.” This year marks the debut of his latest creation, “Belushi Blue,” a guitar-shaped bluefish wearing a hat and shades like the Blues Brothers.

Reef madness: Amidst all of the fun and frolicking, the underwater broadcast is interspersed with serious messages to festival goers about the importance of sustaining the reef by not touching the coral, or littering, and using mooring buoys instead of anchors. “We’re just trying to get people to be more conscious of their impacts and be careful about them,” says Becker.

The Underwater Music Festival will be simulcast live on US1 Radio 104.1 FM.

For more information on the festival, click here.

 

Source: parade.condenast.com

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Discover Curaçao with the Ultimate Dive Vacation Guide – 2024 DEMA Special Edition

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Dive Travel Curaçao is thrilled to announce the launch of the Curaçao Dive Vacation Guide – 2024 DEMA Special Edition, an expertly curated resource that unveils the unparalleled dive experiences and vacation possibilities awaiting you in Curaçao. Produced exclusively for the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) Show 2024, this special edition guide is packed with exclusive insights, travel tips, and limited-time DEMA offers that make it easier than ever to explore Curaçao’s stunning underwater landscapes and vibrant culture.

Explore Curaçao’s Unmatched Diving Opportunities

With over 70 diverse dive sites along its southern coastline, Curaçao is a bucket-list destination for divers of all experience levels. From thriving coral reefs and intricate marine ecosystems to historic shipwrecks, the island offers a variety of underwater experiences that are hard to match. The Curaçao Dive Vacation Guide – 2024 DEMA Special Edition provides detailed recommendations for both shore and boat diving, making it a valuable tool for divers seeking the best entry points, pristine reefs, and hidden treasures along the coastline. Whether you are an avid wreck diver, or a beginner interested in shallow reefs, Curaçao has it all.

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Uncover Eco-Friendly Dive Resorts and Top Dive Operators

This DEMA 2024-exclusive Curaçao guide goes beyond diving to feature insider information on Curaçao’s eco-friendly accommodations, dive resorts, and top-rated dive operators committed to sustainable dive tourism. From all-inclusive resorts that support coral reef restoration initiatives to charming boutique hotels near prime dive locations, the guide helps travelers find the ideal stay to match their vacation goals. It also spotlights trusted dive operators on the island who prioritize environmental preservation, offering travelers a way to enjoy the underwater world responsibly.

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Immerse Yourself in Curaçao’s Culture, Culinary Delights, and Adventure

Curaçao offers a vibrant Caribbean culture rich in history, music, and culinary fusion. The guide reveals Curaçao’s hidden gems, including culinary hotspots, historical sites, and eco-tourism opportunities that will appeal to both divers and non-divers. Visitors can explore the island’s iconic architecture, savor a diverse range of dishes influenced by Caribbean, European, and South American flavors, and embark on land-based eco-adventures, such as hiking, cave exploration, and visiting national parks.

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Exclusive DEMA 2024 Specials and Limited-Time Dive Packages

This special edition guide features limited-time DEMA 2024 offers on dive packages, accommodations, and excursions. Travelers who book through Dive Travel Curaçao, or our Curaçao dive travel partners attending DEMA, will have access to exclusive discounts on custom dive vacation packages, making it easier to plan an affordable, high-quality dive trip that fits your preferences. The Curaçao Dive Vacation Guide – 2024 DEMA Special Edition is designed to simplify your travel planning and help you dive deeper into the incredible experiences that Curaçao has to offer.

It’s Time to Dive Curaçao!

Now is the time to discover why Curaçao is a top dive destination in the Caribbean! Dive Travel Curaçao invites you to experience an unforgettable dive vacation with exclusive DEMA 2024 specials tailored just for you. To secure your spot, download a copy of the Curaçao Dive Vacation Guide – 2024 DEMA Special Edition and contact the Dive Travel Curaçao team to start customizing your Caribbean dive adventure today.

For more information and bookings, please visit Dive Curaçao’s website or contact our reservations team directly.

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Santa Divers take the Plunge for Charity

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Ho Ho Ho! Vobster Quay’s recording-breaking charity Santa diving event returns on Sunday 15th December 2024 for another round of festive fundraising frivolities. Run in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Help For Heroes, this ever-popular annual fundraising event aims to raise sack-loads of cash for these two very deserving charities.

Divers of all levels are invited to grab their Santa outfits – and as much festive cheer as they can muster – and head down to Vobster Quay near Mells, Somerset for a mass sponsored Santa dive in aid of charity. In previous years, the event has attracted divers from the far corners of the UK to join in the festive merriment for a final festive dive before the Christmas and New Year break. Back in 2015, the event smashed the world record for the most Santa divers with 188 divers taking to the waters donning their festive finery – a record that remains unbeaten to this day!

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Vobster Santas isn’t just about setting records – it’s also about raising some serious cash for charity. Vobster Quay encourages all divers to get into the spirit of the season to raise much-needed funds for two very deserving charities – the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Help For Heroes.

Through individual sponsorship and online donations, divers can invite their friends, family and work colleagues to sponsor them to plunge into the balmy waters of Vobster Quay dressed in full festive finery. Since the very first Santa dive in 2007, the event has raised over £52,000 for charity. “It’s been over 17 years since the very first charity Santa dive took place at Vobster Quay and every year the event just keeps getting bigger and better” enthused Vobster Quay owner, Amy Stanton.

“Vobster Santas is a great way for divers to say a massive thank you to the both the RNLI and Help For Heroes – two very deserving charities close to our hearts. We’re immensely proud of all that Vobster Santas has achieved and hope that even more divers will join this year’s event on Sunday 15th December. I’m confident that we can make Vobster Santas 2024 the biggest yet!”.

Divers wishing to participate can get involved by simply registering their attendance at
www.vobster.com/event-vobstersantas.php.

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