A retired U.S. Navy admiral, Tim Gallaudet, has claimed that he and a team of researchers believe they have located the region of the lost city of Atlantis. Gallaudet, who previously led the Navy's oceanography work and served as acting administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), stated that high-resolution bathymetry maps of an undisclosed Atlantic Ocean site contain features that align with the ancient Greek philosopher Plato's descriptions.
Plato first detailed Atlantis in his dialogues "Timaeus" and "Critias" around 360 BC, describing it as a wealthy island empire with a capital built in concentric rings of land and water, which was ultimately submerged by earthquakes and floods. Gallaudet stated in an interview on the "American Alchemy" podcast that the team possesses proprietary bathymetry data showing numerous features that correspond to Plato's account. He noted that the dimensions of canal systems in the mapped area match Plato's writings.
Gallaudet mentioned that a well-funded researcher with a ship and a remotely operated vehicle has expressed interest in the project. However, the specific location remains confidential due to a non-disclosure agreement. This account presents a potential search target rather than a confirmed discovery.
The current effort is reportedly led by an emergency-room doctor who has spent over a decade compiling geological and archaeological data. Gallaudet also connected this researcher with physicist Max Derakhshani to explore an algorithm for analyzing 3D terrain data, which he believes could help differentiate natural formations from artificial structures. Gallaudet stated that deep-sea explorer Victor Vescovo has also reviewed the team's presentation and expressed interest.
Most historians and scientists consider Plato's account of Atlantis to be fictional. Plato described the society as technologically advanced, existing 9,000 years before his own time, which would place it over 11,000 years ago.
Gallaudet previously testified before Congress in November 2024 about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) and had hinted at an underwater investigation in August 2025, referring to a "special project" he could not discuss. It remains unclear if this was the same site he is now referencing.
The Azores archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean has been suggested as a possible location, given its geological position and theories that it comprises the highest points of a sunken landmass. Supporters of this theory point to the region's location at the convergence of three tectonic plates as a potential link to the catastrophic events described by Plato. Gallaudet, however, did not confirm if the Azores are the target area.
