How Fast Is Speed of Sound in Water?

Sound travels at 1,481 m/s in water — over 4× faster than in air. Whales communicate across hundreds of kilometres using low-frequency calls, taking advantage of this and ocean SOFAR channels that can carry sound across entire ocean basins.

The SOFAR channel — a deep ocean sound corridor at about 1 km depth — was discovered by US Navy researchers in 1944. Sounds can travel thousands of kilometres through it without dissipating.

• 4× faster than sound in air
• Whale calls travel ocean basins