Radio station broadcasts concert underwater in Florida Keys
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}July 11, 2015: This photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, Jeff Wright, costumed as a seahorse, rocks with a fake guitar during the Underwater Music Festival in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Big Pine Key, Fla. (Bob Care/Florida Keys News Bureau via AP)
Distance swimmer Diana Nyad and hundreds of other music-loving divers and snorkelers ducked beneath the waves Saturday as a radio station broadcasted a concert underwater at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
The playlist included "The Little Mermaid” theme song, the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" and Jimmy Buffett's "Fins" entertained listeners during the four-hour music session.
Some snorkelers took the opportunity to jam underwater on mock guitars or pretend to play instruments such as a whimsical fish flute. Others dressed in costumes depicting mermaids and seahorses as music blared from waterproof speakers suspended beneath boats.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"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."
Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Key West without a shark cage in September 2013. Nyad has said she sang to herself during the 100-mile swim. One of the songs from Nyad's personal soundtrack, "Me and Bobby McGee," was played in her honor Saturday.
The Lower Keyes Underwater Music Festival took place at Looe Key Reef, part of the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, about six miles south of Big Pine Key.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"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," explained 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.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.