Optical detection systems have the potential to get around some limitations of acoustic detection systems, especially with increased fleet and port security in noisy littoral waters. Identification of environmental effects especially tropical storms on underwater optical detection is a key to the success. A typhoon-influenced area is chosen in the western North Pacific Ocean with high ocean transparency and low seasonal optical variability. Underwater inherent optical properties (IOPs) such as the beam attenuation coefficient for 470 nm light are measured in the selected region from the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office sea gliders deployed after super typhoon Guchol’s (June 7 to 20, 2012) passage from June 25 to 30, 2012, and with no typhoon activity from January 9 to February 28, 2014. The observed two sets (with and without typhoon) of IOPs are taken as the input into the Navy’s electro-optical detection simulator. The simulation shows low detection after the super typhoon Guchol-2012’s passage and high detection without typhoon passage.