The ocean echoes with a complex and constantly changing mosaic of sound. MBARI continuously monitors the ocean soundscape, collecting a trove of acoustic data, from the songs of humpback whales and the clicks of dolphins hunting for squid to the pitter-patter of rain and the rumble of an earthquake. These recordings not only provide important insights into marine ecology and ocean health but also offer inspiration. Sound is a natural way for people to experience and learn about the ocean, inspiring stewardship for marine life.

Since 2023, MBARI has partnered with Bay Area music collective Fractals of Sound to bring the “voices” of the ocean to a special sound bath at San Francisco’s historic Grace Cathedral to celebrate Earth Day. This unique collaboration invites audiences to immerse themselves in the serenity of the ocean and connect with marine life.

Whales are Earth’s largest musical composers. They sing powerfully into the vast ocean, where their voices travel great distances. For the Earth Day sound bath, Fractals of Sound worked with John Ryan, a biological oceanographer who leads MBARI’s Ocean Soundscape Team, to weave blue whales, humpback whales, other marine life, and ambient ocean sounds into the evening’s musical composition. 

The gothic cathedral’s unique acoustics, soaring nave, and jewel-like stained-glass windows set the stage for a deeply immersive, meditative sonic journey that aimed to inspire participants to reflect on their connection to whales and other marine animals and consider ways to preserve and protect the ocean.