A frequency independent log periodic acoustic device is utilized for the transmission or reception of underwater sound. The acoustic device when used in conjunction with any substantially plane wave receiving or transmitting transducer produces a directional, substantially constant beamwidth diffraction pattern for radiation or reception of underwater sound signals. A key element of the device is a particularly shaped plate or diaphragm, called a filter plate, made of stainless steel or other material having suitable acoustic properties. The filter plate on being placed in front of any plane wave receiving or transmitting transducer acts automatically to make the beamwidth of the diffraction pattern of the combined device constant, regardless of frequency. This is achieved by automatically making the effective aperture diameter of the filter plate-transducer combination a constant multiple of the acoustic wavelength of the sound in the underwater medium. When used in conjunction with a scannable transducer such as an acoustic lens and retina device the filter plate produces a directional, scannable, substantially constant beamwidth diffraction pattern for radiation or reception of underwater acoustic signals.