Blacktip Island ecologists hope a new Christmas song, composed entirely of coral reef sounds, will encourage coral growth on the small Caribbean island’s reefs. (photo courtesy of Toby Hudson)
A Blacktip Island musician this week released a recording of healthy-reef sounds crafted into a Christmas carol, to be played on underwater speakers and hummed by scuba divers, in an attempt to rejuvenate the small Caribbean island’s coral reefs.
“There’s been several studies the last few years showing how broadcasting sounds recorded on healthy reefs can restore damaged coral,” Leigh Shore said. “We were already working on doing that here when I thought, ‘why not turn reef sounds into Christmas music?’ I just spliced together a bunch of sound files, and, voila, we’ve got the Carol of the Coral.
“All the sounds are what you’d hear on a vibrant reef— crackles and pops, parrotfish crunching coral, pistol shrimp snapping, and the like,” Shore said. “It’s a bit like that dogs-barking-jingle-bells song, but underwater. There’s no words yet, but that’s in the works. So far all I have is, ‘hmmm, hm, hmmmm, hmm-mmm, hm, hm.’”
Experts are divided on the idea.
“We know healthy reef sounds encourage coral growth,” Tiperon University-Blacktip marine biology professor Ernesto Mojarra said. “Worst case, this particular mix of reef sounds will have no effect, so it’s worth a try. And the dive guests really enjoy humming along. It sounds a bit like the A Coventry Carol.”
Others opposed the project.
“Dropping speakers on the reef, then piping garbled sounds into a so-called melody will do more harm than good,” ichthyologist Goby Graysby said. “Natural reef sounds would have been fine, but mounting hydrophones on the reef and blasting random holiday noise will inhibit coral growth. And right now, that’s the last thing our reefs need.”
Scuba divers visiting the island praised the music.
“It’s quite lovely, hearing all the fishy sounds turned into a song,” Suzie Souccup said. “My favorite part is in the chorus, when they use the sound of parrotfish pooping sand to create and awesome refrain. And it feels great to hum along and know I’m helping the reef. I’m going to add it to my Christmas playlist when I get back home.”
Local establishments are also taking advantage of the new song.
“We’re playing it at the bar, and folks love it,” Last Ballyhoo bar owner Willy Bottoms said. “The standard Christmas carols get massively overplayed, so having something fresh and new like this is a great addition. The fact it’s reef themed makes it even better.”
Shore said the carol will soon be available on music streaming services. All proceeds from sales will go to underwater speakers.
The Blacktip Times 