Abstract: This invention relates to an acoustic energy absorbing material which abss sound energy underwater and its performance is independent of the surrounding hydrostatic pressure. It consists of a non-conducting elastomeric matrix having piezoelectric or magnetostrictive particles disposed therein for converting incident soundwave energy into heat, a corrosion resistant coating on the particles for optimizing energy absorption of sonar waves of predetermined frequency, the elastomeric matrix designed so as to have a Poisson's ratio of about 0.5 for effectively utilizing all particles so the incident soundwaves are applied to the particles as a hydrostatic stress distribution, and the acoustic energy absorbing material consisting of a plurality of thin layers of the elastomeric matrix and having high energy absorption per unit volume for providing a slight impedance mismatch between successive layers thus absorbing the predetermined energy of the soundwaves.