25th SILVER ANNIVERSARY UNDERWATER MUSIC FESTIVAL

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It was a tumultuous day at sea as the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce and WWUS 104.1 FM presented the 25th Annual Underwater Music Festival, the festival’s Silver Anniversary in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the Beatles Yellow Submarine.

Beatles “John “Lemonshark” portrayed by Bob Rowland; Paul “McCarpney”; Alicia Merel; George “Herringson”; Zack Woodnanny, Ringo “Starfish”; Cassie Nichols; “Mako” Ono played by Nancy Herlehy and mermaid; Samantha Langsdale descended beneath the waves at Looe Key to rock the reef for the 25th Annual Underwater Music Festival playing guitars as well as musical instruments sculpted by Florida Keys Artist August Powers for the Underwater Festival such as the manta-lin, the drumfish, the sea-phan flute and this year’s creation , the Fluke-a-Lele.

The festival’s “Yellow Submarine” was the star of the show. Founder, coordinator and music director Bill Becker as usual did a “whale of a job” and created a playlist ranging from humpback whale songs to the Beatles “Octopus Garden” and Jimmy Buffett’s “Fins” and this year a special salute to Michael Jackson, with serious messages promoting preservation of the Florida Keys’ unique coral reef ecosystem by incorporating diver awareness announcements, written and recorded by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary officials, offering tips on how people could enjoy the ocean while minimizing the impact on the reef and overall marine environment; all broadcast underwater via Lubell Laboratory speakers suspended beneath boats positioned at the reef for full coverage.

We estimated 100 boats made the trek to Looe Key for this year’s festival totaling over 300 people diving or snorkeling and just enjoying the sights and sounds of the Underwater Music Festival.

The Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce would like to thank our divers and performers, (for really rocking out) Bill Becker,(founder, coordinator, music director and all around go to guy for the festival) StrikeZone Charters, Underseas Dive Center, Brinton Environmental Center- Florida SeaBase, August Powers, Sculptor of the fabulous underwater instruments; Security divers John Nazzaro, Dr. Patrick Rice, Lucja Jakubowski, Heather Dame and Jack O’Neill; Captain Lenny Svetin who manned the press boat, the National Marine Sanctuary and of course Andy Newman and Carol Shaughnessy of Stuart Newman Associates for their enthusiasm as always for the Underwater Music Festival.