Hearing things under water?

[beaker99]

Hi All
I know there are many sounds under water, but other than the snaps and clicks from the mantis and pistol shrimp, what other sounds are there? I heard a low moaning, or grunting sound that totally creaped me out. If I weren't snorkeling alone I probably would have shrugged it off. I would have sworn the sound was coming from some of the larger sheephead swimming near by. Also, do manatee make some sort of noise under water? These guys are always swimming around the area I frequently snorkel.

 

[fppf]

Whales
When we dove in Hawaii we heard humpbacks on every dive.
Remember that sound can travel miles even hundreds of miles in water. So that boat you hear that sounds like its going to run you over really is a distance away.

 

[gatorolsen]

alot of fish make sounds - my husband is the biologist so forgive my lack of technical terms but many fish can drum (red fish, goliath grouper for example)

and I think that sound is produced with a type of bladder (I guess I should pay more attention when my husband explains this stuff to me)

and other fish can make a noise by basically grinding a special type of "teeth" - I think it was a pharyngeal term ?

also keep in mind we are hearing sounds differntly under water and do not have the advantage of localizing sound the same way we do on land so sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint where the sound is coming from

Gatorolsen

 

[thor32766]

well grunts arent named that without a reason. alot of stuff makes sounds underwater

 

[beaker99]

[i. alot of stuff makes sounds underwater [/B]

You're right of course, and I feel a bit foolish with this line. But the low moaning like a muh, muh I heard the other day really creaped me out. As I said I think it was the sheephead or a manatee near by. Who knows!

 

[blu0honu]

the whales in Maui sound amazing... even just putting your head underwater at the water's edge, they sound like they're just a few feet away.

 

[thor32766]

now thats aweomse and yes the mantees do make noise, i was just kidding with you up there. Being underwater is the closets thing we have to heaven on earth. Isnt it amazing how all your worries go away down there. Sure wish we had those whales singing here in florida!

 

[beaker99]

Being underwater is the closets thing we have to heaven on earth. Isnt it amazing how all your worries go away down there. Sure wish we had those whales singing here in florida! [/B][/QUOTE]
So true thor I sometime feel like a snorkeling junkie. The peace and serenity under water is good for the soul. What I can't understand are the divers that rush about everywhere and not really seeing anything. When I snorkel I go slow and try not to disturb the denizens of the deep too much.
I just got back from the keys and only had time for one dive at Bahia Honda State park. Went diving around the base of the bridge and the rock jetty by the boat basin. Saw all kinds of fish and inverts. Several varieties of parrot fish, grunts, damsels, a butterfly fish, and french angel, razor fish, wrass etc etc. I took some pictures with a cheapo under water camera and if I get some good pics I'll post.