Normally, if you hear a sound, you have some idea of where the sound came from. But when a scuba diver hears a sound underwater, it is virtually impossible to tell where it came from.

1. Why?

2. Can you suggest some form of underwater hearing aid type device that would allow more accurate underwater sound localization?

(In reply to re(2): Questioning the answers... by ajosin)

There's more to it than only time and phase.  The shapes of our ears alter the incoming sounds so that various frequencies are time shifted or phase shifted at different rates.

Posted by Erik O. on 2005-04-14 15:24:18