On the Hunt for Treasure
Mel Fisher’s Atocha Adventure in Key West, Florida, gives divers the unique experience of diving the famous wreck of the Atocha. This Spanish vessel was part of a flotilla that was headed for Spain carrying massive amounts of treasure including silver, gold, emeralds and pearls from various countries in the Americas. It sank in a hurricane in 1622 off the coast of Florida, and after a 16-year search, was discovered by treasure-salvage legend Mel Fisher in 1985. This week-long adventure offered by Mel Fisher’s Treasures will teach divers salvage techniques and give them the opportunity to search out remaining artifacts on the wreck with experts. Participants will receive a VIP tour of the operation’s conservation labs (which are not open to the public), where they’ll learn the process by which the artifacts are tagged, numbered, cataloged, documented, photographed, weighed, measured and preserved. They’ll also learn how to search for artifacts and the proper techniques to recover their finds. Once they’re ready, divers hit the wreck with their newfound skills and search out artifacts in evacuation holes along an active part of the trail. If they find anything, the dive crew helps recover the items and bring them to the surface for cataloging. Although divers can’t actually keep any artifacts they find (they need to go through the proper conservation channels) Mel Fisher’s will reimburse them with a piece of treasure valued at up to $2,500. Divers have to be at least 18 years old, and this hands-on expedition caters to groups of six. Participants also receive an official “Dive the Atocha” certificate along with any treasure they might be entitled to on the Wind and Wine sail at the end of their journey. Bonus: If your group has yet to dive the newest artificial reef in the Keys, the Vandenberg, you can add a trip to this 523-foot-long retired U.S. Air Force ship in lieu of a local reef dive. Just ask your adventure leader when you book. Packages are $2,500, and $500 for each additional nondiver. For more info visit melfisher.com. — Maria Nunez
Mel Fisher’s Atocha Adventure in Key West, Florida, gives divers the unique experience of diving the famous wreck of the Atocha. This Spanish vessel was part of a flotilla that was headed for Spain carrying massive amounts of treasure including silver, gold, emeralds and pearls from various countries in the Americas. It sank in a hurricane in 1622 off the coast of Florida, and after a 16-year search, was discovered by treasure-salvage legend Mel Fisher in 1985. This week-long adventure offered by Mel Fisher’s Treasures will teach divers salvage techniques and give them the opportunity to search out remaining artifacts on the wreck with experts. Participants will receive a VIP tour of the operation’s conservation labs (which are not open to the public), where they’ll learn the process by which the artifacts are tagged, numbered, cataloged, documented, photographed, weighed, measured and preserved. They’ll also learn how to search for artifacts and the proper techniques to recover their finds. Once they’re ready, divers hit the wreck with their newfound skills and search out artifacts in evacuation holes along an active part of the trail. If they find anything, the dive crew helps recover the items and bring them to the surface for cataloging. Although divers can’t actually keep any artifacts they find (they need to go through the proper conservation channels) Mel Fisher’s will reimburse them with a piece of treasure valued at up to $2,500. Divers have to be at least 18 years old, and this hands-on expedition caters to groups of six. Participants also receive an official “Dive the Atocha” certificate along with any treasure they might be entitled to on the Wind and Wine sail at the end of their journey. Bonus: If your group has yet to dive the newest artificial reef in the Keys, the Vandenberg, you can add a trip to this 523-foot-long retired U.S. Air Force ship in lieu of a local reef dive. Just ask your adventure leader when you book. Packages are $2,500, and $500 for each additional nondiver. For more info visit melfisher.com. — Maria Nunez
