Equal-loudness contours in water and its depth dependence

Abstract One of the most simple and effective ways of giving instructions to divers and/or preventing diving accidents is to transmit an audio signal directly in water. It is well known that we have an auditory sensation in water, but the appropriate expression of hearing has not been studied sufficiently. In the first stage of this study, equal-loudness contours in water were obtained by hearing tests for two subjects in a swimming pool. Two additional measurements on loudness levels were performed to discuss the relation between the loudness in water and in air. In practical problems, it is suggested that the auditory sensation in water is affected by water depth due to variations in physical parameters such as hydraulic pressure, density, temperature, etc. In the second stage of this study, similar hearing tests were carried out in the pool with 5 m depth to investigate the depth dependence of these contours.. All rights reserved.