The calm sounds of waves on a rocky beach

Waves crashing on a rocky beach – Madagascar’s Indian Ocean coast 

In the Masoala peninsula we found a hidden and sheltered paradise. Let’s start with the wildlife, which you can hear in my other recordings from Madagascar. It was an incredible privilege to witness these amazing creatures, most of which can only be found in Madagascar, and some only in one small pocket of rainforest. Every day we had amazing encounters that left us awe-struck and speechless. The weather was perfect, a little mild and humid with occasional rain and plenty of warm sunshine. Excellent for rainforest hikes, sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, swimming or simply sitting on the beach with a beer.

Most of all, the soundscapes were breathtaking. Rare wildlife, soft rain, subtle wind, and of course waves crashing on the endless empty beaches. I recorded many hours of the latter, with different setups and from many perspectives. I spent many hours sitting on the beach and listening, taking it all in. To record this soundscape you’re listening to right now, I walked back and forth on the beach until I found a spot where I could hear the detail of the waves very clearly as they hit the rocks. I also wanted to capture a little bit of the sound of the rainforest, just to anchor the recording in space and time. Lastly, I wanted to keep my mics safe from drowning in seawater or spray, which reduced my potential locations drastically.