The Real Cause of Bermuda Triangle disappearances: rogue waves, not UFOs

Published on August 29, 2025

The Bermuda Triangle has been cloaked in myth and mystery, fueling numerous theories concerning the disappearance of ships and planes. Many believed UFOs or supernatural forces were the culprits. Now, one of the Bermuda Triangle’s biggest myth busters is leading oceanographers. Dr. Simon Boxall, an oceanographer with the University of Southampton, puts forth that instead of supernatural forces, rogue waves could be the mystery behind the Bermuda Triangle. He takes some of the mystery out of the scientific Bermuda Triangle by explaining how.

The Mystery of Rogue Waves

Rogue waves, or extreme storm waves, are mammoth walls of water that can be as high as 30 meters. They are unpredictable in that they can arise without warning. Because of their extreme suddenness and their catastrophic power, Dr. Boxall adds that ships in their way simply do not have the time to send a distress call, even if they wanted to.

The USS Cyclops, a naval ship that vanished in the Bermuda Triangle in 1918 with 306 crew members on board, continues to evoke fascination. Dr. Boxall’s research team conducted experiments on a scale model of the ship and found that the flat base and considerable dimensions of the ship made it susceptible to the destructive forces of rogue waves. In their simulations, the models of the ships were quickly overwhelmed by the waves, supporting the hypothesis that Cyclops might have drowned in rogue waves.

The USS Cyclops and the Bermuda Triangle

Despite the extensive research done on the Bermuda Triangle, one of the mysteries that continues to baffle experts is the disappearance of the USS Cyclops. The 542-foot American naval ship vanished while en route to Baltimore from Brazil. The Cyclops was constructed as one of the biggest vessels of the U.S. Navy, and its sudden disappearance in the Bermuda Triangle brought a lot of controversy in the Navy and beyond.

Dr. Boxall postulates that rogue waves may have significantly contributed to the disappearance of the Cyclops. He explains that such waves have the potential to suspend ships within their wrestling grips of enormous crests, straining their structures. Dr. Boxall sheds light on the Cyclops by suggesting that the ship may have fallen victim to rogue waves during its last voyage, which explains the incident devoid of supernatural reasoning.

The Science Behind Rogue Waves

The last few centuries offered the world many myths, one of which was the existence of rogue waves. Many still claim that waves form from the collision of multiple smaller waves, sometimes catalyzed by storms that expend energy in chaotic directions. This combination results in a tremendous, unpredictable surge of water that can attack from all directions.

Just like many other things in the world, rogue waves do not exhibit the typical features of the ocean and its routine waves. They can show up in the most improbable and alarming of circumstances, posing a threat by surprise. However, there is still good news: scientists are slowly piecing together the mystery of why rogue waves form, all thanks to the many documented tales of their destructive power.

All vessels encounter the threat of rogue waves, although larger vessels might be more susceptible due to the structural damage these waves may cause. The larger the vessel, the more it is likely to be shredded if caught in the trough between two rogue waves. As Dr. Boxall mentioned, the Cyclops, in spite of its flat-based features, was an ideal candidate to be overrun by a rogue wave.

Myth And Reality About The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle is known all over the world for being a stretch of the ocean between Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, where a number of ships and planes reportedly vanish without explanation. Still, several scientists believe that the number of mysterious vanishings is not extraordinary.

According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration – NOAA, state, there is no reason to prove that the Bermuda Triangle is more dangerous than other locations of the ocean that are crowded with ships and airplanes. As a matter of fact, a study of Lloyd’s of London, insurance agencies, showed that the loss ratio in the Triangle is no higher than in other regions.

Some researchers claim that the unsolved confusion of the Bermuda Triangle could be simplified through accessible explanations, such as shallow waters, unpredictable weather, poor weather, and difficult routes. With the large volume of islands and constant storms, the area creates additional challenges for both ships and aircraft.

Bermuda Triangle: The Real Mystery

Different people have come up with different theories, some surrounding the Bermuda with actual logic and some with pure speculation. Regardless, the general scientific viewpoint leans towards rational natural causes for all the mystic vanishing. With all this in consideration, Dr Boxall, with his peer, blames the notorious weather and poor navigation for the unforgiving imagination of the Bermuda Triangle.

It is believed that the baffling vanishing of numerous aircraft and ships could be the outcome of unnecessary risk and the environment. Dr Boxall also maintains that the brutal force of some of the so-called “rogue” waves that happen to appear out of nowhere with no time for communication can be deadly. Information collected, as well as some of the claims made, explore the fact that environmental situations, rather than unexplained reasons, are to blame for the happenings in this area.

Moving Forward: Understanding the Bermuda Triangle

Although the Bermuda Triangle will likely remain a source of fascination, the mystery behind its disappearances is slowly being solved. Researchers like Dr. Boxall are focusing on the powerful natural forces that work in this area. This region has its own set of unique, merciless weather, which includes: rogue waves, difficult weather conditions, and navigational dangers.

The scientific community will continue bringing light to these issues. This strongly suggests that the Bermuda Triangle is far from being a region of supernatural mystery. It is, instead, a region that needs to be understood and has to be respected in light of the forces that shape the ocean.

In conclusion, the remaining reputation of the Bermuda Triangle as a zone of unexplained mysteries will soon be a thing of the past. This area is slowly being demystified. Far from being a site of supernatural activity, the Bermuda Triangle is a reminder of the enduring mystery of the ocean and the unrelenting forces of nature, through science, we are slowly able to bear witness to.