Treasure Blog

Down
Treasure Found on Atocha site!
March 08, 2024

Treasure Found on Atocha site!

We are happy to report that yesterday the Dare crew discovered a 3" spike and a silver coin on the Atocha site! 

Read more

The Case of the Dyslexic Mint Worker
January 17, 2024

The Case of the Dyslexic Mint Worker

Reversed letters and design elements on silver “cob” coinage produced by the Potosi mint might have been the work of an employee suffering from a reading disorder.

Read more

Remembering Mel Fisher - The World's Greatest Treasure Hunter
December 19, 2023

Remembering Mel Fisher - The World's Greatest Treasure Hunter

"I think that perseverance has paid. That's one of the main things, just hang in there and do your thing and when people try to tear you down or get jealous, just let it go in one ear and out the other and keep on going." - Mel Fisher

Read more

Coin found on Atocha site
October 17, 2023

Coin found on Atocha site

The coin was found in the deep mud area just NW of the main pile find. The crew came back in due to inclement weather but will be going back out once conditions improve. Today's the day!

Read more

See September 2023 Recent Finds
October 10, 2023

See September 2023 Recent Finds

Watch a video from latest finds in September 2023.

Read more

Gun powder flask discovery
September 21, 2023

Gun powder flask discovery

We are excited to show you a recent discovery from our last trip. Pictured is a powder flask discovered on the Atocha site near the Bank of Spain. The powder flask would be used 

Read more

Possibly the World's Oldest Dive Bell
September 15, 2023

Possibly the World's Oldest Dive Bell

Diving the depths to recover lost fortunes is actually not that new. For centuries man has longed to explore the underwater world. Recently, a find from Mel Fisher's salvages of the Santa Margarita has captured the interest of marine archaeologists. Read more...

Read more

OTD April 28, 2011 Emerald and gold ring found
April 28, 2023

OTD April 28, 2011 Emerald and gold ring found

This gold & emerald ring was discovered on the Margarita shipwreck site.
This is a wonderful example of the baroque style of this time period.

Read more

Artifact from the Atocha - Wooden Bed Post
April 18, 2023

Artifact from the Atocha - Wooden Bed Post

Turned Lignum Vitae Bed Post, found by the Dare on 10-18-2014
Excerpts from Research article by James Sinclair, MA
for Mel Fisher's Treasures
Perhaps one of the more unique finds from the Atocha is that of a turned wooden bed post. This fragment of opulent furniture was located not far from the Primary Cultural Deposit. The Wood was so hard that when first located crew believed that the object might be modern. The first order of investigation was to identify the type of wood that the bed post was made of.

Read more

Atocha Cross
April 08, 2023

Atocha Cross

The Atocha Cross, discovered 1982

Here is a detailed drawing and images of one of Atocha's most magnificent discoveries, an exquisite emerald cross with an intricately etched image of St. Anthony and Christ child and the Madonna and child. Read more...

Read more

Gold Chains of the 1622 Fleet
March 14, 2023

Gold Chains of the 1622 Fleet

Gold Chains of the 1622 Fleet
By James Sinclair

Perhaps one of the most unanticipated finds from the 1622 Fleet shipwrecks is the gold chains. This was a class of item that while expected turned up in numbers that were truly staggering. The first of the gold chains to be found came from the area where the first galleon anchor was found in the area of the Quicksands that was dubbed the Bank of Spain.

The first of the chains to be found was a small example but it none-the-less brought much excitement. Brought to the surface by photographer Don Kincaid, it was a thrilling moment for those involved. While some silver coins had been found, along with the galleon anchor, the presence of gold made the find that much more real and exciting.

Read more

9 Carat Emerald Ring Found
March 07, 2023

9 Carat Emerald Ring Found

9 Carat Emerald Ring Found - June 2011

By James Sinclair

Continuing the wonderful finds from the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, on June 23, 2011 Capt. Andy Matroci and the crew of the J.B. Magruder have done it again! This time with the recovery of a beautiful emerald ring, two silver spoons and some silver coins. In the last Newsletter I mentioned in the article on the gold rosary find, that it may...

Read more

Elaborate Gold Spoon
January 27, 2023

Elaborate Gold Spoon

This elaborately decorated spoon is one of the most beautiful artifacts from the Atocha. Intricate gold spoons like this one were often reserved for ceremonial purposes, such as dispensing holy water and consecrated wine or to distribute commodities of great value like sugar or salt.

Read more

Emerald ring sells for $1.2 million at auction!
December 12, 2022

Emerald ring sells for $1.2 million at auction!

The Emerald Recovered From 400-Year-Old Shipwreck Raises $1.2 Million For Ukraine At Auction. All proceeds set to be donated to humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

Read more

New Find on Atocha Site!
October 22, 2022

New Find on Atocha Site!

New discovery on the Atocha site! What appears to be a small musket ball was discovered. It is significantly smaller in size compared to other musket balls recovered. 

Read more

So why did the Atocha have copper ingots?
October 17, 2022

So why did the Atocha have copper ingots?

One of the larger cargos put onboard the Atocha in 1622 for the return voyage to Spain was a 30,000-pound load of copper ingots. 582 copper ingots were loaded onboard the Atocha at Havana, Cuba, the Atocha’s final stop before sailing to Spain. The copper originated from the Cuban mine at Caridad del Cobre, owned by the Spanish crown. Only three ships carried this royal cargo of copper in the 1622 fleet - the Atocha, Santa Margarita, and Rosario...

Read more

Beyond Oak Island featuring Atocha Emeralds
October 04, 2022

Beyond Oak Island featuring Atocha Emeralds

Watch BEYOND OAK ISLAND on the History Channel next Tuesday, October 4th to see the new Season 3, Episode 1 - "The Atocha's Emerald City". The Lagina Brothers and Matty Blake joined us in Key West recently, to search for Atocha emeralds. Today's the day! 

Read more

Mel Fisher Days will take place in September 2022
August 08, 2022

Mel Fisher Days will take place in September 2022

This year, to commemorate the 400-year anniversary, Key West’s annual Mel Fisher Days celebration will feature a series of events beginning Friday, Sept. 2, and running through Tuesday, Sept. 6, at multiple island locations. Event net proceeds benefit two charities: Wesley House Family Services of Monroe County and the Michael Abt. Jr. Have A Heart Foundation.

Read more

On this day!
June 10, 2022

On this day!

On this day in 2007 this magnificent gold money chain was found. What makes it unique is the fob that was found still attached! These chains were used by many as currency. People would twist off a link and use as money. This chain in particular is 58" long and has over 400 links.

Read more

But They're Only Sharks Susan!
April 27, 2022

But They're Only Sharks Susan!

About an hour before this shot was taken Mel was sitting with his dive gear on about to go in the water with Steve, one of our divers. Then someone spotted a shark fin near the boat. Mel said to Steve, "Well are you going in or not?"

 

 

Read more

Christmas Story by Kim Fisher
December 10, 2021

Christmas Story by Kim Fisher

What I did on my Christmas Vacation
by Kim Fisher
Back in the 1980s, like many companies, my parents would shut down operations from just before Christmas until just after New Years Day. Of course, the gift shop would have to stay open so people could come to buy a piece of history for Christmas. Other than that, we let everyone have that time off to be with their family and loved ones. Usually, at that time of year, we have one cold front after the other and it is just too dangerous to work in the high seas and wind that accompany the cold fronts, so we didn’t miss out on workable weather.
1986 was a little different. 

Read more

Zach Moore finds gold coin on Atocha site
July 19, 2021

GOLD AND SILVER COINS FOUND ON ATOCHA SITE!!!

Mel Fisher’s Treasures salvage vessel J.B. Magruder with newly appointed Captain Tim Meade at the helm finds an exceedingly rare Atocha gold coin on July 16, 2021, in 30’ of water. Congratulations to Captain Tim and the entire Magruder crew. The coin was found by 2nd generation treasure finder, Engineer Zach Moore on the Nuestra de Atocha Spanish galleon shipwreck. The last Atocha gold coin ever recovered from in 2001, this will only be the 121st Atocha gold coin ever found on the Atocha site to date. Today's value is estimated to be at least $98,000, even more, if it's from a rare mint.

Read more

Crown Ring
July 02, 2021

Crown Ring

This authentic crown ring was recovered from the 1715 Fleet wreck site on Florida’s east coast and crafted in the time of the Renaissance. Since purple is the color of royalty, how appropriate is it then for this marquise-cut amethyst to be crowned by two fanciful angels?

Read more

J.B. Magruder's haul from the last trip!
June 10, 2021

J.B. Magruder's haul from the last trip!

J.B. Magruder's haul from the last trip! Watch as the divers explore the Atocha site, what will they find next?

Experience the fun, romance and adventure of treasure hunting first-hand. Dive the richest Spanish shipwreck ever discovered, the Atocha! Search for the fortune in treasure that still remains to be found and take home your very own shipwreck treasure. 

Visit or dive the active wreck sites...
CALL NOW TO START YOUR ADVENTURE! (305) 294-5441

Photo/video credit: Red

Read more