Water you Listenin' To?

All the world's a watery stage. At least it is in Berlin and South Florida. Germans seeking wellness can now "bathe in light and music" in the Liquidrom's "aquatic stage," while visitors to the Florida Keys have been moshing at the Underwater Music Festival.

This year almost 400 people dove, as in scuba diving, to hear the 19th annual Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival, which took place in a marine sanctuary six miles south of Big Pine Key.

Music was delivered speakers suspended beneath boats. This year's six-hour music marathon included "Yellow Submarine," music from "The Little Mermaid," and Jimmy Buffett's "Fins." Event founder Bill Becker, 30 feet below the surface, delivered a live remote radio broadcast. "We played some humpback whale songs, too, but didn't attract any humpback whales," said Becker.

Some observers reported fish swimming to the music. [Oxygen check!]

Ironically, the festival's purpose is coral reef preservation. The broadcast delivered diver awareness announcements from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary officials, teaching people how to have fun but minimize impact on delicate reef and other marine environments.

In Berlin, a new spa at the Tempodrom multimedia center immerses visitors in music. Literally: its salt water pools are kept at 98 degrees, and music emerges from both above- and below-water speakers, delivered by a specially-made sound system. Depending on time of day, a refreshing soak can be invigorated by techno DJs or soothed by ambient music or even marine mammal sounds.

According to the Liquidrom's web site, "The whole experience is rounded off with ‘Aqua Wellness’ sessions (body work in warm water), cosmetic and massage, the sound-chair, sauna and steam baths, restaurant and "Healing Waters" photography exhibition." The gift shop sells CD collections of "ambient rhythms that have been particularly well received amongst aquatic bathers."

Read about the Underwater Music Festival at the Miami Herald or the Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Read the WIRED magazine article about the Liquidrom, or visit the Liquidrom's own web site [including 3-D tour, sound]