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): Solution by Larry)

I don't agree Larry, SONAR gives only a 1-D (distance) information, but these days they use sets of hydrophones on subs and from this information the computers create the 3-D image.

Edited to comment the speed measurement.

The equipment does not have to measure the actual speed of sound, it only has to measure time difference.  And time can be measured very accurate.

Edited on April 16, 2005, 10:04 pm

Posted by Hugo on 2005-04-16 21:55:47