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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 

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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...

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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! 

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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.

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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.

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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?"

 

 

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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. 

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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.

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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?

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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

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The Mel Fisher Story
April 29, 2021

The Mel Fisher Story

This is the story of Mel and his family's search through the years.

Originally written by Bleth McHaley & Wendy Tucker

July 20, 1985 was "the day" at last when Mel Fisher, the world's greatest treasure hunter, found his dream of dreams, the priceless treasure cargo of the fabled lost Spanish galleon Atocha. 

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Atocha and Margarita Story
March 22, 2021

Atocha and Margarita Story

The following account detailing the ill-fated voyage of the Nuestra Senora de Atocha and her sister ship the Santa Margarita from Havana to their final resting place at the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Key West, Florida was written by archeologist R. Duncan Mathewson III and can be found in his book, Treasure of the Atocha. An exciting adventure story of the search and discovery of what is proving to be the most fabulous treasure wreck of all time can be found in the book section of this site.

The Ghost Galleon

The Ghost Galleon In the century following Columbus' dramatic voyage of discovery in 1492, the riches of her New World colonies helped make Spain the most powerful nation in Europe. Taxes on goods shipped from Central and South America by Spanish merchants enabled Spain to defend its Western Hemisphere claims against the English, French, and Dutch, and to extend its empire halfway around the world into the South Pacific.

The Atocha and its sister ship, Santa Margarita, are tragic milestones along this broad commercial highway (called Carrera de Indias by the Spanish) that carried

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What do the symbols on a piece of eight mean?
February 07, 2021

What do the symbols on a piece of eight mean?

The term "Pieces of Eight" refers to all Spanish silver coins that were minted during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The primary denomination, 8 Reales, was equal to one troy ounce of silver.

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The Poison Cup Story
January 13, 2021

The Poison Cup Story

The Poison Cup Story
By Kim Fisher

It was a long time ago. My first wife JoArden Michael was pregnant with our eldest son, Jeremy. Jeremy was born in January 1975 so it must have been the summer of 1974. The ocean was flat calm, like a sheet of glass. Because the seas were so calm and there was no wind the Captain of the Virgilona Demostonese “Mo” Molinar had decided to spend the night on the Atocha site. We were going to work until dark. 

We were working in shallow sand just one or two feet deep on the edge of the “Quicksands”. Because of the water depth and the shallow sand, we were running the mailboxes at an idle dusting away the fine white sand. It was the last hole of the day and the sun had already sunk halfway below the horizon. I was the only one still suited up and the rest of the crew was busy putting their gear away and clearing the decks for the night. 

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New Video from Our Divers
October 28, 2020

New Video from Our Divers

October, 2020
Museum quality "Columbia Plain Pottery" found on the Atocha site!
️⚓️ New footage of the bowl recovered from the Atocha site. Watch as Treasure Diver Tim Meade shows you the fully intact bowl discovered this month. This style pottery is known as "Columbia Plain" and is thought to be well preserved because of it's thick nature. Here is an excerpt from Archeologist Mitchell W. Marken, "CERAMICS from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha" explaining more about Columbia Plain Pottery. "The second most common ceramic tradition found on Spanish shipwrecks is the Columbia Plain type tin glazed earthenwares. These wares were used as the everyday plates (platos) and drinking bowls (escudillas) by crew and less wealthy passengers. The platos and escudillas were probably made on molds as a fair degree of uniformity exists." This find is very unique because it is fully intact and still has a good amount of glaze left on it. You can just feel the history and only imagine what it was like to be a crew member on one of these vessels.

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