Mysterious Object Emerges on a Florida Beach, Setting Off Speculation

Locals and officials are stunned by a mysterious object that appeared near Daytona Beach Shores in Volusia County, Florida. Hurricane Ian in September and Hurricane Nicole last month left a beach erosion that made the object visible, aided by high tides and rough surf. Beachgoers and Volusia County Beach Safety found the object, which is about 80 feet long and made of wood and metal. The thing couldn’t be roped off because high tide submerges it. “The state underwater archaeological team has been notified to investigate further,” said Kevin Captain, a spokesman for the Volusia County government.

A Mysterious Object Washes Up on the Beach

The object is not recognizable, but many theories are already circulating on news websites and social media. Officials believe the object could have been lying under the sand for decades. Speculations say it may be an old groyne, a piece of a pier, a shipwreck, or seating from NASCAR races that once took place on the beach. [1]

“It is a mystery,” said Tamra Malphurs, a spokeswoman for Volusia County Beach Safety. “Many people think it is an old ship of some sort.” She adds that state archaeologists will soon examine the mysterious object. “There could be some kind of metal there,” she said. “We are not positive.”

This mystery is among many that have washed up on Florida’s coast. Storms, erosions, and tides have revealed many strange items. For example, in 2020, a couple on Crescent Beach discovered wooden planks and bolts sticking out of the sand. Maritime archaeologists later analyzed the discovery and theorized that it was from the Caroline Eddy, a ship from the 19th century. 

In 2021, a high school student walking south of Turtle Train Beach found a rare 1715 Fleet gold coin. This past October, a man on a beach in St. Augustine uncovered a diamond ring worth about $40,000. “Every now and then, something pops up, and usually you can tell what it is,” Malphurs said. “This one, you just can’t confirm,” she added about the mysterious object on Daytona Beach Shores. [2]

Read: These Obscure Gadgets Used to Be Everyday Objects. Can you guess what they are?

More Strange Discoveries 

But strange finds wash up worldwide, not just in Florida. Last year, a swimmer was returning to the shore of Bomba Beach in Kiama, Australia, when she saw a mysterious, gelatinous object on the sand. Donna Reardon posted a photo on Facebook, asking what the item could be. It was yellow and red and shaped like a fortune cookie with a firm jelly-like texture. Commenters suggested it was “some sort of marine egg,” or hardened shark feces. Some joked it looked like a giant tooth. 

However, Reardon later found an identical picture on the website of the Australian Museum. It was a swim bladder from a large porcupinefish, also known as a blowfish. The bladder keeps the fish buoyant, and helps with hearing for some species. But Reardon faced a second challenge: convincing her grossed-out husband to keep the bladder in their home. [3]

In 2018, a different mysterious object washed up on the Seabrook Island shoreline in South Carolina. It looked like a cylindrical piece of foam, as tall as a person. “There’s no metal on it. The whole thing is just layers of foam. It also doesn’t look like it’s been in the water that long,” said Lauren Rust, the executive director of the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network. “You’d think if it were in the water [for a long time], it would be covered in barnacles and all sorts of [sea life].“

Despite its appearance, the object feels “like a soft foam,” according to Rust. There is no official conclusion on what the object is, but there are many fun theories on social media, including aliens and the Death Star from Star Wars. [4]

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