The national security of the United States is currently facing heightened scrutiny following an unprecedented spike in reports concerning Unidentified Submerged Objects (USOs) along both the Pacific and Atlantic seaboards. These mysterious phenomena, characterized by objects that can silently enter or exit the water without creating a wake or disturbance—a capability defying conventional hydrodynamics—are generating significant alarm among senior military leaders. The Enigma application, a sophisticated tracking system which was launched toward the end of 2022, has become a crucial tool for documenting these anomalies. Globally, the system has amassed data on more than 30,000 unexplained incidents. Critically, over 9,000 of these occurrences have been recorded within a narrow ten-mile radius of American coastlines, indicating a heavy concentration of activity in strategically sensitive maritime zones vital for defense and commerce.
A state-by-state analysis of the statistics reveals that California leads the nation in reported cases, logging 389 incidents, closely followed by Florida with 306. This data suggests that these observations are not merely random, isolated events but rather reflect a discernible pattern that necessitates profound investigation. Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, who previously served as the Navy Oceanographer, voiced his strong conviction in a March 2024 report that the seamless transition capabilities of these objects between the air and water environments pose a direct threat to the maritime security of the United States. The Admiral strongly urged the government to "courageously face this new reality and learn from it," calling for increased transparency and dedicated scientific inquiry.
Admiral Gallaudet pointed out that while substantial resources are dedicated to monitoring aerial space, underwater maneuvers might be occurring without adequate surveillance. This creates dangerous vulnerabilities, particularly for vital infrastructure, such as the global network of underwater communication cables. He emphasized that the focus on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) should not overshadow the equally critical domain beneath the waves, where potential threats could operate undetected.
To underscore the gravity of the situation, the 2019 incident involving the U.S. Navy ship USS Omaha is frequently cited. During this event, the vessel's infrared camera captured a rapidly moving spherical object over the Pacific Ocean before it vanished into the sea without leaving any trace or splash. The Pentagon subsequently authenticated this recording, acknowledging that the object’s behavior cannot be explained by conventional physics or known technological capabilities. Such occurrences, often observed near Navy training areas and major shipping lanes, compel a complete overhaul of current approaches to analyzing and monitoring submerged anomalies.
Experts universally agree that while public attention often fixates on aerial phenomena, the underwater realm remains largely unexplored and misunderstood, often referred to as the "last frontier." As Admiral Gallaudet proposes, acknowledging and systematically studying these USOs offers dual benefits: strengthening national defense capabilities against potential unknown threats and opening up significant opportunities for advancements in marine science and technology. This moment demands a fundamental reassessment of what is considered possible within our vast oceans and requires taking responsibility for understanding everything that inhabits them. Ignoring these persistent, confirmed observations would be a profound oversight in maintaining comprehensive national security.