How Long Did It Take Fisher To Find The Atocha in the USA
Mel Fisher made a commitment of his greatest personal effort to find the Atocha, believing every day that the elusive lady was ready at last to reveal her lavish secrets. Lesser men would have failed. On July 20, 1985, after more than 15 years, Mel’s dream was achieved, and the Atocha’s mother lode was located.
How long did Mel Fisher look for the Atocha?
Mel Fisher`s salvage boat Dauntless rode at anchor near the Marquesas Keys along the Straits of Florida. Fisher, described in the national media as the ”world`s greatest treasure hunter,” had been searching 16 years for the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, a Spanish galleon that sank in a hurricane in 1622.
When did Mel Fisher discover the Atocha?
On July 20, 1985, following a 16-year search, a salvage team led by Mel Fisher recovered the mother lode of the Atocha, from its nearly 370-year exile on the ocean floor… establishing the greatest discovery in treasure salvaging history, both in archaeological and commercial terms.
How did Mel Fisher find the Atocha?
Fisher found the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha named after a parish in Madrid for protection. He discovered silver bars from the wreck in 1973, and in 1975, Dirk found five bronze cannons whose markings would prove to be that of the Atocha.
How much money did Mel Fisher find on the Atocha?
On July 20, 1985 – 35 years ago today – Mel Fisher discovered the shipwreck of the Nuestra Senora De Atocha off the Florida Keys. The cargo’s value is estimated to be worth around $400 million. The treasure includes 24 tons of silver bullion, ingots, and coins, 125 gold bars and discs and 1,200 pounds silverware.
Is the Atocha still being salvaged?
The Atocha is the late Fisher’s most famous find, but his company is currently in the process of salvaging three other wrecks – the Santa Margarita, which went down with the Atocha, and another ship that was also believed lost in the same storm, as well as a wreck off the east coast of Florida code-named “Lost Merchant Jul 17, 2019.
How much does it cost to dive the Atocha?
Atocha Dive Expeditions 631 Greene St., Key West, Fla.; 305/797-3131, fax 305/296-4330; [email protected]. Trips accommodating up to 14 people leave daily at 9 a.m. and return at 5 p.m., year-round, weather permitting. The $250 fee includes scuba equipment, lunch, and two guided dives.
How deep is the Atocha shipwreck?
One of the five ships ran aground. In time, they did find another ship (the Santa Margarita) that went down with the Atocha. At a depth of approximately 56 feet, the divers had enormous difficulty retrieving the cargo.
How much gold was on the Atocha?
In 2014, Nuestra Señora de Atocha was added to the Guinness Book of World Records for being the most valuable shipwreck to be recovered, as it was carrying roughly 40 tonnes of gold and silver, and 32 kilograms (71 lb) of emeralds.
Where is the treasure from the Atocha?
After the discovery, items from the cache of treasure went on permanent display at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida. Now, some 40 items from the Atocha and Santa Margarita yield will go on the block at the auction house Guernsey’s in New York City early next month—August 5, to be exact.
What is the largest sunken treasure ever found?
An Engineer Found the Most Valuable Underwater Treasure Ever Discovered. In July 1985, after a dogged 16-year-search, Mel Fisher found the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, which carried $1 billion in treasure.
How many unfound shipwrecks are there?
there are an estimated three million undiscovered shipwrecks; We’ve detailed four of the most valuable – with billions of pounds just waiting there.
What happened to the Black Swan treasure?
On February 27, 2012 the ship’s treasure was flown back to Spain where the coins and other artifacts from the shipwreck are now in the National Museum of Subaquatic Archaeology in Cartagena (Murcia). In 2015 a U.S. district court ordered Odyssey to pay Spain $1 million for “bad faith and abusive litigation.”.
How can you tell if a Atocha coin is real?
Typically, they are clearly struck on both the obverse and reverse sides with the mintmark, assayer mark and denomination often all visible. Atocha coins are supplied with the original photo type Certificate of Authenticity.
Can you keep shipwreck treasure?
A discoverer who finds a shipwreck pursuant to the law of finds is entitled to the full value of all of the goods that are recovered. Since the owner of the vessel has given up trying to recover the shipwreck, the discoverer is deemed to have full rights to the content.
Who is the most famous treasure hunter?
Notable treasure hunters Juan Ponce de León (searched the new world for gold and the Fountain of Youth) E. Lee Spence (pioneer underwater archaeologist, discoverer of the Hunley, SS Ozama, SS Georgiana. Phillip Masters discovered Blackbeard’s flagship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge in 1996.
Who owns the salvage rights to the 1715 fleet?
The 1715 Fleet-Queens Jewels LLC, a historic shipwreck salvage operation, owns the rights to the remains of the 1715 Treasure Fleet. Former owner Brent Brisben acquired the salvage rights from legendary treasure hunter Mel Fisher and has since sold the controlling interest in the salvage company.
Was the Atocha part of the 1715 fleet?
When they find out that we are still working on and recovering items from the Atocha, they can’t believe it. The Atocha has been a very large part of my entire career. Of course, the Atocha is a legend, but it was the 1715 Fleet that romanced my parents to Florida and introduced them to success in the salvage business.
Did Mel Fisher keep the treasure?
Mel Fisher, a former chicken farmer who became a Horatio Alger figure among undersea treasure hunters, died on Saturday at his home in Key West, Fla. Eventually his son Kane located the underwater bounty in 1985, and treasure worth roughly $400 million was recovered.
Can anyone dive on the Atocha?
The Atocha Dive Adventure, presented by the Fisher family and Mel Fisher’s Treasures of Key West, gives recreational divers a chance to be part of the historic search and recovery effort.
Are there professional treasure hunters?
Buried and hidden treasure may be the stuff of legend and film, but treasure hunters exist – both professionals and hobbyists – and sometimes they do actually find something.
How do I invest in Mel Fisher?
A minimum investment in Mel Fisher’s Treasuries is $6,520, but they run to the $150,000 Emerald Level. Investors can visit the wreck site, and the year’s find is shared at an annual Division Party.
Where was the Atocha built?
Havana, Cuba.
Is the treasure in Outer Banks real?
The Royal Merchant isn’t a real ship, but it’s based on the real-life 17th century shipwrecked Merchant Royal that went missing off the English coast with a vast treasure that was never found.