Abstract: An underwater sensing system has a trunk cable that transmits a plurality clock signals from its first end to its second end. A plurality of signal handling nodes are installed successively along the trunk cable in a spaced apart relationship. Each of a plurality of linear sensor arrays extend from one signal handling node. Each sensor in the sensor arrays receives the clock signals and generates a data output signal in response thereto at specifically ordered time sampled intervals based on a count of the clock signals. The data output signals are transmitted to the one signal handling node associated with the sensor array. At each of the signal handling nodes, a multiplexer interleaves the data output signals received from its sensor array in a continual throughput, time-division multiplexed fashion with concatenated data output signals received from the next successive signal handling node located further from the first end of the trunk cable.