Debunking the 7 Most Common Myths About the Bermuda Triangle

As is often the case, reality tends to be much more mundane than the sensational stories presented by pseudo-scientific programs.

The Bermuda Triangle is a region in the Atlantic Ocean, specifically in the Sargasso Sea. It is roughly bounded by Bermuda, Miami, and Puerto Rico. This area is reputed to be the site of frequent, mysterious disappearances of ships and aircraft, often without a trace. The legend gained momentum after five U.S. Navy bombers vanished during a training flight on December 5, 1945, in this zone.

Advocates of alternative theories offer a variety of explanations for these incidents, ranging from extraordinary weather phenomena, supposedly unique to this part of the ocean, to UFO activity and portals to other worlds. The Triangle has become a legendary spot, shrouded in myths. Here are some of the most widespread ones.

Myth 1: More ships disappear in the Bermuda Triangle than anywhere else

Due to its popularity in media, the Bermuda Triangle is often regarded as the most cursed and dangerous place in the ocean. However, actual statistics reveal that the Sargasso Sea is not particularly hazardous. In fact, it is quite safe.

A report by the World Wildlife Fund in 2013 shows that the highest number of shipwrecks occurs in the South China Sea, the Mediterranean, and the North Atlantic. Additionally, ships frequently go missing in the Eastern Mediterranean, near the Panama Canal, the Black Sea, and around the British Isles.

The reason is simple: these regions have higher traffic. The Sargasso Sea itself is not even among the most dangerous zones.

Researcher Larry Kusche, in his book “The Bermuda Triangle: Myth, Mystery, and Truth,” thoroughly analyzed many of the so-called “unexplained” disappearances. After extensive calculations, he concluded that the number of shipwrecks in the Triangle is no higher than in any other heavily trafficked part of the ocean.

Moreover, since the 1990s, the number of ships lost in this area has significantly decreased due to advances in radio communication and satellite navigation systems.

Myth 2: The region regularly experiences dangerous underwater gas eruptions

One hypothesis suggests that ships and planes disappear in the Bermuda Triangle due to natural phenomena involving sudden releases of underwater gases. The main culprit often cited is methane hydrate, but other options include carbon dioxide or ammonia.

The hypothetical mechanism is as follows: a large methane bubble erupts from beneath the continental shelf, rising to the surface and engulfing a passing vessel. Since methane is much less dense than water, the bubble causes the water’s density below the ship to decrease, leading to a loss of buoyancy and the vessel sinking.

This phenomenon could also cause aircraft crashes. If the air is saturated with methane, the lift generated by the wings would diminish, causing the plane to fall. Additionally, the engine’s oxidizer supply could be compromised, preventing the aircraft from functioning properly.

While plausible, this theory has a significant flaw. According to the US Geological Survey, no methane deposits have been found near the southeastern coast of the United States, specifically in the Blake Ridge area. Geologists state that over the past 15,000 years, no significant gas eruptions have occurred in the Bermuda Triangle.

Myth 3: Waves in the Bermuda Triangle generate dangerous infrasonic sounds

Another theory aims to explain the “mystery” of the Bermuda Triangle through infrasonic waves. In nature, there exists a phenomenon called microbaroms, or “sea voices,” caused by strong winds acting on ocean wave crests, producing powerful low-frequency sounds. This is a well-documented natural phenomenon studied by Soviet and American meteorologists.

Some believe that these “sea voices” are responsible for all the shipwrecks in the area. The idea is that the waves generate such intense infrasonic vibrations that humans become disoriented or panicked, jumping overboard.

However, microbaroms occur in the Sargasso Sea at similar frequencies as elsewhere in the ocean, and such events are extremely rare.

Furthermore, the infrasonic pressure capable of causing symptoms like vision disturbances, headaches, dizziness, nausea, or suffocation is estimated at around 150 dB. Microbaroms typically reach only 75–85 dB — comparable to a loud concert, where you are still exposed to more noise.

The “sea voice” is unpleasant but not deadly. Marine creatures, such as jellyfish, tend to avoid it by diving deeper. This phenomenon does not pose a lethal threat and is unlikely to cause anyone to abandon ship out of fear.

Myth 4: A giant squid sinks ships in the Bermuda Triangle

For many years, giant squids and colossal octopuses were popular explanations for disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle. The legendary sinking of the American ship USS Cyclops in 1918 was sometimes attributed to attacks by these sea monsters.

However, in 2004, Japanese researchers captured the first images of an adult giant squid, and since then, oceanographers have studied these animals extensively. It turns out that the largest individuals reach only about 12–13 meters in length and weigh around 275 kilograms. While sizable, these creatures are nowhere near capable of sinking small fishing boats or large ships.

Moreover, squids are quite shy and do not attack humans. They pose no threat to ships or sailors in the Bermuda Triangle or elsewhere in the ocean.

Therefore, no krakens or giant squids are lurking in the depths ready to sink vessels.

Myth 5: The Bermuda Triangle features powerful magnetic anomalies

Some incident reports mention compass malfunctions in the Bermuda Triangle, leading to speculation about magnetic anomalies in the region. It is believed that such anomalies could cause navigational errors, resulting in accidents.

There is even a legend claiming that Bermuda is the only place where a compass points to true north instead of magnetic north.

In reality, such points do exist. For example, in Florida, the deviation from true north is effectively zero. However, within the Bermuda Triangle, the magnetic declination is about 15°, a fact known since at least the 19th century. Navigators are well aware of this and adjust accordingly.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has found no unusual electromagnetic activity in the Sargasso Sea. Instruments behave predictably in this area.

Myth 6: Insurance costs are higher for ships passing through the Bermuda Triangle

Norman Hucker analyzed shipwreck data from 1963 to 1996 for Lloyd’s Maritime Information Services. He found that most disappearances in the region are related to weather conditions rather than mythical monsters or alien portals.

Therefore, despite the legends, insurance premiums for vessels crossing the Bermuda Triangle are no higher than in other parts of the ocean.

Other Atlantic regions are actually more dangerous for shipping. For example, the area near Cape Hatteras, known as the “Atlantic Graveyard,” has claimed over 1,000 ships. The Sable Island area off the coast of Canada has seen around 350 shipwrecks.

Myth 7: Sailors and pilots avoid the Bermuda Triangle

In reality, the Bermuda Triangle is a heavily traveled route — both by sea and air. You can verify this yourself using services like MarineTraffic, which shows real-time ship positions. It hardly looks like a cursed zone that everyone avoids.

Pilots and sailors routinely cross the area without fear. While the region’s complex seabed topography and strong currents, including the famous Gulf Stream, require caution, there is no evidence of supernatural forces or extraterrestrial activity causing these incidents.

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