Whale song, visual art, and mindfulness - an immersive oceanic experience built to make people care.
When Joshua Sam Miller was 10, he learned to scuba dive in the glacial waters of a New Hampshire lake, captivated by what it felt like to enter a world beneath the surface.
Three decades later, Miller recreates that sense of immersion for audiences around the world, without anyone entering the water.
His project Sounds of the Ocean blends deep-sea field recordings, including whale song, original ambient compositions, and immersive visual art. The goal is to foster personal well-being while deepening emotional connections to ocean conservation. The award-winning work has been presented around the world, including at United Nations ocean conferences and international climate summits.
"I think that if we can connect people with the majestic creatures that share this planet, it's a natural next step to care more about protecting them and where they live."
The Call of the Ocean
Miller worked in film for about a decade before stepping away to travel internationally. During that time, he saw how deeply connecting with nature could affect people and, in turn, the planet. A lifelong musician, he became intrigued by nada yoga, or the yoga of sound, and by sound therapy and healing. He studied in India and Portugal before settling in Santa Cruz, California, to teach and host immersive sound experiences focused on well-being.
At one of these events in 2019, marine biologist Dr. John Ryan of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute pulled Miller aside and suggested he explore recordings from the institute. There, an underwater research station located about 21 miles offshore and 3,000 feet below the surface uses hydrophones to record the sounds of passing marine life.
Miller was captivated. The recordings were dense and alive, teeming with sound. The songs of the humpback whales were especially moving. "I knew that the sounds of these whales were very special," he said.
That October, Miller hosted his first event, combining the undersea recordings with his original ambient compositions. About 50 people showed up with yoga mats and pillows and sat in a circle. "Most people just closed their eyes and dove into the ocean," he recalled.
He had doubts along the way. He wrote the word "ocean" on a piece of paper and stuck it to the wall. Each morning, especially on days when he lacked motivation, he looked at it and reminded himself of the larger purpose. "I'd think, 'That's worth the effort. That's worth pushing through the doubts. Let's keep going.'"
Immersion in Sound
At first, Miller performed live, playing the clarinet, handpan, harp, and other wind and percussion instruments. The piece was primarily an audio experience, best enjoyed while sitting or lying down with eyes closed. "It's incredible what your imagination can fill in visually," he said.
Eventually, he expanded his team to include artists from 10 countries. Miller and his collaborators understood early that "the ocean is really a global story," and built the project accordingly. The work now blends his original music with Māori vocal traditions, featuring artist WHAIA, alongside deep-sea recordings and immersive visual art.
"People have told us it's the most relaxed they've ever felt."
Many audience members report feelings of calm and happiness. Others describe more profound moments. "Some say they felt connected to loved ones who had passed away. Others are blown away by what the ocean really sounds like and all that is happening beneath the surface."
From Wonder to Protection
Miller believes projects like his can serve as a powerful voice in the climate movement. "Stories are what move people," he said. "When those stories are felt on an emotional level, we tend to pay closer attention."
"Even someone who does not believe climate change is something we need to pay attention to may still be moved by an emotional connection to an animal, such as a whale or an elephant. If they learn that the animal's environment is in danger, I think that connection has the potential to motivate them more strongly."
At live events, the production team partners with local environmental groups and its nonprofit education partner, Oceanic Global, offering attendees immediate ways to get involved. For screenings, 10 percent of proceeds go to local or regional conservation organizations.
He sees the project operating at the intersection of environmental protection and human healing. "Ocean health and human health are really one and the same."
Listening at Sea
Recently, Miller was scuba diving off the coast of Maui when he heard humpback whales sing underwater for the first time. He couldn't see them, but their voices surrounded him in every direction. "It was a moment I'll never forget," he said.
Now the Sounds of the Ocean team is developing a new "on-sea" program in Hawai'i. Participants will travel by sailboat into open water, where a submerged hydrophone will carry the sounds of whales and other marine life directly to listeners wearing headphones on deck.
For the boy who once wanted to enter the underwater world, it is a fitting next step: helping others experience that same feeling of wonder by listening closely enough to feel immersed in it.
To dive deeper into Sounds of the Ocean, upcoming screenings, and ocean-listening experiences, visit soundsoftheocean.com.
This story appears in Beach Happy Magazine, Issue No. 24 (Spring 2026). Read the full issue here.
