This paper deals with application of wavelet transform, which is known to be good for time-frequency analysis, in order to detect the underwater transient signals embedded in ambient noise. A new detector of acoustic transient signals is presented. It combines two detection tools: wavelet analysis and higher-order statistics. Using both techniques, the detection of the transient signal is possible in low signal to noise ratio condition. The proposed algorithm uses the wavelet transform of a partition of the signal on frequency domain, and then higher-order statistics tests the Gaussian nature of the segments.