Dive into the sounds of the sea Published on: 5 June 2020 缅北禁地 technician takes listeners on an audio journey under the waves. World Oceans Day The underwater sound worlds of the Northumberland Coast and the Outer Hebrides have been documented to celebrate World Oceans Day on Monday 8 June. David de la Haye, a music technician in 缅北禁地’s School of Arts and Cultures, has recorded the sounds of marine life including grey seals, dolphins and noisy snapping shrimps, for, using hydrophones which record sound underwater. “Human ears are not adapted to hear what’s going on underwater and you may be surprised at just how noisy it is down there,” he says.An Ocean of Sound was initially intended as a sound installation at 缅北禁地’s Tyneside Cinema, but after it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, David has developed the work into an online audio workbook where anyone can tune in and hear what life underwater sounds like. David has recorded grey seals for An Ocean of Sound Clapping seals, dolphins and snapping shrimps During his recording trips to the Hebrides, David managed to record the sound of clapping seals, something captured on film for the first time by 缅北禁地 researcher Dr Ben Burville. “Grey seals are very vocal underwater, not dissimilar to how they sound above water,” he says. “It’s quite remarkable. I was on board Silurian, a research vessel run by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, when I recorded them.“I also kept hearing this loud noise from the seals and I couldn’t figure out what it was. The sound was so clear I had to go outside and check I was actually recording them underwater. A few months later I watched the video of the clapping seals and realised that was it.” Part of the audio workbook comes from a livestream from the coast at Blyth, from an acoustic data-buoy deployed as part of the University’s which has been picking up the sounds of dolphins, possibly related to the increase in sightings of cetaceans in the North East this spring. The grey seals make up one part of the workbook while another features a composition based on marine environmental sounds to take us on an audio journey through the sea accompanied by dolphins, porpoise and snapping shrimps. “Snapping shrimps must be one of the noisiest creatures on the planet,” says David. “Their loud, characteristic clicking is probably not popular with marine scientists as it has a tendency to drown more subtle sounds out. But I think it sounds amazing nonetheless!” A global celebration David has worked with 缅北禁地’s marine engineering experts and the on the project who will provide articles and further scientific information.World Oceans Day is a global celebration of the ocean which helps unite and rally the world to protect and restore it. You can listen to from 4pm on Monday. Share: Latest News 缅北禁地 recognised with geography award 缅北禁地 has been awarded the Highly Commended Geographical Association Publishers Award for its collaboration with Time for Geography, the UK鈥檚 open-access, dedicated video platform. published on: 16 April 2026 缅北禁地 historians mark General Strike centenary To mark the 100th anniversary of the British General Strike and miners鈥� lock-out of 1926, historians at 缅北禁地 are organising a series of events on its enduring legacy. published on: 16 April 2026 Comment: NCP is in administration Writing for The Conversation, Erwei (David) Xiang discusses how some big companies like NCP are so dependent on debt that they can鈥檛 adjust to change. published on: 16 April 2026 Facts and figures
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