Minimizing drag on the cavitator is essential in hydrodynamic research and for improving the performance of objects used in marine environments. This study focuses on optimizing a parabolic cavitator and analyzing the cavities it generates in detail. First, the key factors for optimizing the cavitator were identified using the Taguchi method. Based on these factors, the three-dimensional shape of the cavitator was numerically simulated, and the hydrodynamic forces acting on it were calculated with consideration of cavitation. The optimized cavitator shape was then identified through further analysis using the Taguchi method and was experimentally tested to confirm its real-world performance. Subsequently, the characteristics of artificial cavitation behind the improved cavitator were examined both experimentally and numerically across various ventilation coefficients. The experiments included high-speed imaging and pressure measurements to capture the dynamics of cavity formation and collapse, while numerical simulations were performed using a k-omega shear stress transport turbulence model and a volume of fluid approach to accurately predict the phase interface. The results highlight the importance of the cavitator’s incidence angle and the distance from its nose to its base in the optimization process. Moreover, the analysis shows that pressure fluctuations are significantly more intense at the point where the cavity closes than within the cavity itself. Additionally, the findings indicate that the supercavity characteristics generated by this optimized cavitator are 10% better than those produced by other cavitators, contributing to reduced drag and improved hydrodynamic efficiency.

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