Splash about to quietly confuse (6)
I believe the answer is:
paddle
'splash' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'to quietly confuse' is the wordplay.
'to quietly' becomes 'p' (p for piano and quiet).
'confuse' becomes 'addle' (addling is a kind of confusing).
'p'+'addle'='PADDLE'
'about' is the link.
(Other definitions for paddle that I've seen before include "row ensues" , "Canoe blade" , "Canoe mover" , "Walk by the shore" , "Oar; walk in water" .)