The acoustic resonances of a submerged fluid-filled cylindrical shell are analyzed as the shell cross section is deformed from circular to elliptical geometry. A schlieren visualization system is used to image standing wave fields within insonified water-filled shells of different eccentricities, and to locate the resonance frequencies of the fluid column. The acoustic behavior of elliptical cavities with infinite and finite surface impedances are modeled and the theory used to predict the resonance frequencies of the fluid column and calculate the pressure distribution in the acoustic field. As the symmetry of the circular shell is broken by deforming it to the more general ellipse the resonance spectrum changes; mode splittings and level crossings are observed as the eccentricity increases. The experimental observations of resonance patterns and frequency variation are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.