Method and marine acoustic source array for generating an acoustic wave in a body of water. The marine acoustic source array includes a first depth sub-array set of first acoustic source points configured to be provided at a first depth (z1), the first acoustic source points having different inline first locations along a longitudinal axis (X); and a second depth sub-array set of second acoustic source points configured to be provided at a second depth (z2), the second acoustic source points having different inline second locations along the longitudinal axis (X). The first locations do not coincide along the longitudinal axis (X) with any of the second locations.