## 1 Introduction  
Underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSN) and underwater vehicles (UV) can expand our scientific, commercial, and naval capabilities [1]. UWSN network exploration has received attention from numerous researchers [1]. However, security investigation for UWSN and UV, as one network entity, is unavailable based on state-of-the-art technology. Therefore, this research investigates combined UWSN and UV as optimized underwater vehicular wireless sensor networks (UVWSN), has proven useful and visually mapping benthic habitats and inspecting the structures of ships [2]. UVWSN network tends to automate underwater traffic, utilizing underwater vehicles. UVWSN can be utilized for ocean vehicle monitoring. The underwater acoustic network has increased nowadays. While much effort in the research of UVWSN has shifted, designing network security in UVWSN still needs to be thoughtfully complied with. An incredibly significant aspect is that UVWSNs are vulnerable to malicious node attacks (MNA). This is through the characteristics of underwater acoustic communication channels and the vehicles they deploy. Examples are the long propagation of signal delay, higher bit error rates, and a low communication bandwidth. All these network design challenges have a greater possibility of affecting UVWSN, which this research investigates. Therefore, UVWSN must provide a higher speed data transmission rate with dependable, secure, and low latency metrics [3]. An essential feature of the UVWSN network is that it assists in efficiently monitoring and inspecting underwater applications, such as vehicles, including ship structures. However, the efficiency of the network may be possible after deploying the required security mechanism, including secure data aggregation and authentication (SDAA) optimized methods. SDAA-optimized methods include cluster-based network design (CBND) plans. In addition, SDAA methods provide the protection offered in the UVWSN through underwater sensor nodes (USN), which tends to isolate any MNA or vulnerable external nodes [4]. Another essential feature of the SDAA method is that the base station (BS) is employed to confirm the USN's legitimacy after being deployed in the UVWSN. Therefore, BS awards trustworthiness/privacy protection through the authentication of each USN before they can be allowed to be part of the UVWSN. Moreover, multiple mobile sinks (MMS) [5] have mobile nodes that utilize more energy efficiency mechanisms for convenient use in the network [5]. In addition, MMS controls the dynamic mobility of the USN [5]. This adjusts the MMS moving speed and trajectory while traveling in the underwater vehicle, reducing any MNA that may persist in the network. The detection of MNA in the SDAA methods is also due to its high energy-withholding capability. In addition, the CBND method prolongs the lifetime of UVWSN, utilizing secure data aggregation and authentication methods that deploy MMS arrangements in the network. Moreover, CBND collects specific data from its members, including the cluster head (CH) and cluster node (CN) of USN in the UVWSN, which assist in organizing the underwater environment information and then forwards it to the MMS. The SDAA method compares design concerns with other secure medium access control (MAC) standards protocols that do not utilize CBND in their network deployment, as described below. The authors in [6] proposed self-sustaining, efficient, and forward-secure cryptographic constructions for unattended wireless sensor networks (SEFSC). In addition, the authors in [7] proposed the synopsis diffusion approach (SDA), and the authors in [8] proposed the energy-efficient and secure transmission scheme based on chaotic compressive sensing in underwater wireless sensor networks (EEST). The authors in [6; 7; 8], proposed protocols that were investigated based on secure MAC UWSN, but they did not utilize CBND. Moreover, the authors in [9] proposed authentication methods based on secure MAC UWSN.