On Saturday, July 14, Big Pine Key -- a quiet, easy-to-miss Key between Islamorada and Key West -- will host one of the most unusual festivals in the US. The 23rd annual Underwater Music Festival will allow divers to explore Looe Key Reef -- part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary -- to the rhythms of the sea. Literally.

Staged by a local radio station, the event features the station's music selections broadcast underwater via speakers suspended beneath boats moored on the reef. (The playlist typically includes ocean-themed tunes such as "Yellow Submarine" and "Fins.")

Moreover, local divers will dress as Sonny and Cher, Elton John, David Crosby -- and even a mermaid. An Elvis impersonator will rock the house that day, and divers can even check out some underwater art. For more details about this summer concert, contact the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-872-3722.

I attended the event last year, and it was a lot of fun -- though somewhat disorganized. TIP: If you're interested in seeing Elvis or the other underwater "musicians," be sure to ask early and often about their location. They only perform for a few minutes, and not all the dive boats know where they are. Despite the confusion, the day was still a lot of fun, and the diving was good.

Filed under: Scuba Diving, United States