Mysterious ‘sonar anomaly’ detected off North Carolina’s coast

A mysterious ‘sonar anomaly’ detected off the coast of North Carolina has resulted in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration launching a major expedition.

NOAA’s Ship Okeanos Explorer was sent diving on Wednesday to determine if the anomaly was a possible shipwreck or rock formation. 

The government agency spent a few days building suspense about the expedition, saying they were unsure if they would find ‘an archaeology site, a geological formation, or otherwise’.

The area in which the sonar anomaly was detected was dubbed the ‘Big Dipper Anomaly’ by explorers. 

The crew on board the Okeanos Explorer launched the remotely operated vehicle at about 8.30am on Wednesday.

NOAA livestreamed the exploration on its website and social media channels saying the vehicle reached depths of 820 to 13,124 feet. 

The area in which the sonar anomaly was detected was dubbed the ‘Big Dipper Anomaly’ by explorers

NOAA livestreamed the exploration on its website and social media channels

The location of the search site was kept a secret.

NOAA provided an update late Wednesday saying the mission team had reached the sonar anomaly and it appeared to be geologic in origins. 

‘The team continued to circumnavigate the rocky feature and documented many fish species as well as other fauna,’ the agency said. 

The area along North Carolina’s coast is often referred to as the Graveyard of the Atlantic because of the high number of ships that have sunk there.