Unsolved Mysteries of the Ocean
The ocean has always held mysteries that amaze people. From strange creatures that have never been identified, giant waves that suddenly appear and disappear, to areas filled with mysterious disappearances—all of which create a mysterious picture of the underwater world.
#### Strange Encounters at the Bottom of the Sea
In July 1965, two US Navy officers, Captain Marvin McCamis and Captain Bill Rainey, were on a mission to test the Artemis listening system in the “Ocean Tongue” area of the Bahamas. When their submersible Alvin had reached a depth of about 5,000 feet (~1,500 m), they continued to descend another 300 feet to check a cable on the sea floor.
As McCamis was observing the cable, he noticed something moving around the ship. At first, he thought the ship was drifting, but he quickly realized the object was moving on its own. According to McCamis’ description, the creature had a thick body, flippers, a long neck with a snake-like head, and two eyes that were staring at them. He described it as looking like a giant lizard with two sets of flippers.
Before they could get their cameras, the creature disappeared. When they reported the incident, they received skeptical responses. McCamis believed that his initial account of the incident had been erased from the Navy’s official records. Based on his description, the creature bore a strong resemblance to a plesiosaur—an ancient marine reptile that many believed to be long extinct.
#### Monster Waves Appear Out of Nowhere
One of the most terrifying phenomena in the ocean is the rogue wave. Giant columns of water over 100 feet (~30 m) high can appear suddenly without warning. Unlike tsunamis, which can be explained by undersea earthquakes, rogue waves seem to just appear and disappear without reason.
For centuries, scientists even doubted whether rogue waves actually existed. However, in 1995, the first rogue wave was recorded, turning what had seemed like legend into reality. Today, researchers are still trying to figure out what makes these waves reach such enormous sizes.
#### Massachusetts Sea Monster
In the summer of 1817, off the coast of Massachusetts, fishermen and locals repeatedly reported seeing a strange creature. It was described as a giant sea serpent, about 50 feet (~15 m) long, with a head as large as a horse’s, and moving vertically like a whale or dolphin rather than slithering like a snake.
Initially, many believed it was a hoax. But as more and more witnesses confirmed its existence, public opinion began to panic. Some even tried to shoot the creature with muskets, but were unsuccessful. To this day, there is still no definitive explanation for the Massachusetts Sea Monster. A popular theory is that strange fish such as the narwhal may have been mistaken for a giant creature.
#### The Mystery of the Twilight Zone Under the Sea
The “twilight” zone of the ocean, where light is only a flicker, remains one of the most mysterious areas. In 2014, scientists discovered that the fish population in the area could be 10 times larger than previously estimated. Even more astonishing is the massive nightly migration: billions of sea creatures swim up from the twilight zone to feed, then dive back down during the day.
#### Mysterious Signals From the Deep
On November 11, 2018, seismic equipment around the world picked up a strange wave signal from the Indian Ocean. The wave was low-frequency, lasted more than 20 minutes, and was unlike any previous earthquake—no major shaking, no typical seismic waves.
After months of research, scientists discovered the cause: a giant underwater volcano had been quietly erupting, creating new terrain that no one had noticed until the seismic data came in. This raises a troubling question: how many more major geological changes are taking place beneath the seafloor that we have yet to detect?
#### The Mysterious ‘Duck Call’ Sound
For decades, submarines and research vessels have recorded a repetitive duck-like sound in the Southern Ocean. The mysterious sound appears seasonally, especially during the Antarctic winter. Theories range from unidentified marine life to secret military technology.
It wasn’t until 2014 that the mystery was solved: Antarctic minke whales were the culprit. However, the purpose of the sound remains unclear—is it for communication, navigation, or something else?
Dragon’s Triangle—The Sea of Death
The Dragon’s Triangle, also known as the Devil’s Sea, lies off the coast of Japan and has long been considered one of the most dangerous places on earth. Ships and planes have disappeared without a trace for centuries. The Japanese government has even designated the area a dangerous area.
One of the most famous disappearances occurred in 1952, when the research vessel Kaiyo Maru No. 5 and its 31 crew members disappeared without a trace. Several witnesses have claimed to have seen flying objects shooting out of the water at incredible speeds in the area, fueling speculation about the supernatural or the presence of extraterrestrial technology.
Mysterious Glowing Seas
Sailors have reported seeing “glowing seas” for centuries—vast areas of water that glow bluish-white, sometimes stretching for thousands of miles. For a long time, the phenomenon was considered a myth, until satellite imagery in 2006 proved it actually existed.
The cause is thought to be bioluminescent bacteria gathering in huge numbers, but how they synchronize to glow continuously for hours or even days remains a mystery.
