A preview into the wild water world below the waves
By Sophia Kowalski
In early March 2026, Jason Mendoza, a physicist working for NASA, was found washed up on a beach in Lee County, Florida. Officials discovered the man sunburnt, disoriented, and frantically sketching blueprints for what appeared to be a city, an incident that quickly caught the attention of both news outlets and social media.
After taking him into custody, authorities determined that the blueprints depicted an underwater city allegedly being constructed by a pod of dolphins. According to Mendoza, the pod was led by a dolphin named Gerald, who had kidnapped him in hopes that he would help design a civilization that mirrors human society, complete with a system to travel between their ocean city and Florida’s aqueducts.
Mendoza claimed he was held for three days, during which the dolphins not only forced him to draft plans but had already begun construction. He described learning how to build underwater while working on what is now being referred to as “Atlantis.” He further warned that the dolphins intend to continue their efforts and, lacking opposable thumbs, may attempt to recruit more humans to complete the project.
Since reporting his experience, Mendoza has not been seen or heard from. Social media remains divided; some believe he was recaptured by Gerald and his pod, while others suspect he has gone into hiding out of fear.