In July 2001, a Canadian team of oceanographers led by marine engineers Paulina Zelitsky and Paul Weinzweig made a startling discovery that continues to intrigue archaeologists and historians. While conducting sonar mapping of the ocean floor for the Cuban government, the team identified a series of symmetrical stone formations approximately 55 miles west of Cuba and 260 miles east of Cancún, Mexico—deep beneath 2,100 feet of water.
The sonar scans revealed what appeared to be massive geometric structures resembling pyramids, roads, and platforms—suggesting the remnants of a sophisticated urban center. The site, located off the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, was further explored using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which captured images of smooth, granite-like blocks arranged in patterns not typically found in nature.
Zelitsky described the formations as “a really wonderful structure which really looks like it could have been a large urban center,” though she cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions without further evidence. Geological analysis suggested that the area may have once been above sea level and submerged due to tectonic activity or volcanic shifts. Some experts, including Cuban geologist Manuel Iturralde, estimated that the structures could be as old as 6,000 years—predating the Egyptian pyramids by over a millennium.
Despite the initial excitement, follow-up expeditions were limited, and the site remains largely unexplored. The depth of the structures poses significant technical challenges, and debates continue over whether the formations are man-made or natural anomalies.
This underwater discovery, often dubbed the “Lost City of Cuba,” has sparked renewed interest in ancient civilizations and the possibility of forgotten chapters in human history—waiting to be unearthed beneath the sea.
Sources: INDY 100 / LAD Bible / Explorify
