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Salvage News!

We would like to thank Hi-Tech Deck on the work they did with the Parker. High-Tech Deck Specializes in the highest quality, non-slip EVA Closed Cell Non-Skid Proprietary Blend Marine Flooring on the market.

Salvage News!

Summer's treasure-hunting season is on the horizon, and it's building up to be an exhilarating period. While we await calmer winds for the safety of our crew, we are diligently using this time to analyze data from our past surveys and strategize for doing much more surveying over the summer.

On the Atocha site, we also have several surveys in the works. We will conduct our bi-annual side scan survey required by the FKNMS to use excavation equipment along the Atocha & Margarita trails. We will also be using a brand new Geometrics 882 magnetometer with the most up-to-date components matched with a new high-accuracy Trimble survey grade GPS unit to conduct some intensive, high-accuracy mag surveys along the Atocha trail where the Dare has been working. This area is just to the Northwest of the Atocha Main Pile area and is the area of deep mud where with feel is the most likely area for significant finds of silver coin chest, silver bars, bronze cannons, etc. The mag survey will help us to identify areas of iron shipwreck scatter material that should lead us to other non-ferrous artifacts such as silver, gold, and bronze.

This mag survey is also going to help guide us for our upcoming EM (electro-magnetic) survey using a new high-tech large EM coil detector system that we’re planning to bring in during July for a survey of this deep mud area. This system is remotely controlled and has proven to be very successful in detecting buried non-ferrous unexploded ordinances for the military in challenging environments.

This deep mud area that we are working is a primarily virgin area along the Atocha trail that was jumped over very quickly during the search for the Atocha Main Pile. When the Dare was working its way up this trail back in 2009, they uncovered deeply buried copper ingots, a trail of single silver coins, and a perfectly preserved wooden bedpost. Click here to see the article about bed post. We are very excited to continue finding more deeply buried artifacts while extending this trail to the Northwest this summer.

Today's the day!

Mel Fisher Days Announcement

SAVE THE DATE! July 19-20, 2024 We are excited to announce this year we will be holding Mel Fisher Days "WHERE IT ALL BEGAN" at our Sebastian, Florida location! Click here for schedule>

November 2023

On this #GivingTuesday we would like to share a Foundation that is near and dear to the Fisher Family. Michael Abt Jr. (son of Taffi Fisher) was a perfectly healthy active child with no signs or symptoms, yet he collapsed and lost his life to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) at the age of 12 while playing in P.E. class at school. We learned the hard way that this is not rare, SCA is the #1 cause of death on school campuses. The Foundation's mission is to eliminate these preventable sudden cardiac deaths in youth by ensuring that all schools have public access to Automatic External Defibrillators (AED's) and the staff and students are trained in CPR and ready to use the AED's in case of a cardiac emergency. Most importantly the primary prevention will be to screen kids' hearts with a simple and affordable electrocardiogram (ECG). Statistics show that 1 youth will die from SCA every 3 days. Most of these deaths are due to undetected heart conditions, many of which can be identified with a simple ECG. Screening your child may save their life! Learn more about the foundation: haveaheartformichael.org Michael Abt Jr. Have a Heart Foundation Thank you and happy Giving Tuesday!

Recent Finds from September 2023

Join us as we dive for Treasure on the Atocha site!

Members Dive the site 2023

Join us as we dive for Treasure on the Atocha site!

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. Could this be part of an ancient diving bell, used in an attempt to recover Spain's lost treasure? Dr. Sean Kingsley talks with Marine Archaeologist James Sinclair, MA.
Check out Wreckwatch Magazine: https://www.wreckwatchmag.com
Mel Fisher Museum in Sebastian Florida: https://www.melfisher.com/sebastian.html

Boat Update, September 2023

The Dare left today to go back out to the Atocha site. We will keep you updated on what they discover. Today's the day!

Boat updates for THE DARE

The Dare is back out at sea! June 2023

The Dare is currently on the Atocha site searching for trasure. The last 11 day trip we found several pieces of ballast stone and pottery. We are hot on the trail and can't wait to see what is discovered next! Today's the day!Photography: Mary Martin

05/25/23 Boat updates for THE DARE

We are currently out on the Atocha site!

The Dare and crew are still on the Atocha site and have been there for more than a week. More ballast stone and some pottery have been found so the trail continues! They should be returning Monday or Tuesday after a nice long trip! We will keep you posted on what they discover. Today's the day!!

Boat updates for THE DARE

Planning for long trips at sea!

We are preparing for more treasure hunting which means scheduled maintenance and repairs. While the Dare was in port many repairs (some essential) and upgrades were done to ensure long trips at sea.

The boat has been pulled out of the water for bottom cleaning and painting. This will help with fuel costs and make sure there is no structural damage.
Photography: Mary Martin

The crew of the Dare is excited to head out for their next trip, once the boat is ready to go. Today's the day!

Dare Crew Members from left to right: Cameron Miller, Adam Flowers (First Mate), Vince Trotta (Capt) Bottom row: Matt Moore (Engineer), Drake Nicholas

Photography: Mary Martin

Ring sells for $1.2 million

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.

Late Perdue Farms CEO Frank Perdue was an early on member with Mel Fisher and was given some of the treasure, and while he donated most of his share, he kept an emerald that he later had cut for the engagement ring he used to propose to his wife Mitzi in 1988.

Mitzi Perdue was selling the ring in order to give the proceeds to humanitarian groups helping Ukraine, according to Sotheby’s, saying her late husband would “share my desire to help those in dire need” (Frank Perdue died in 2005).

The ring sold to an anonymous buyer for far more than expected, more than 15 times as much as the $70,000 high-end estimate of the auction house.

Show airs tonight! October 4 9/8c

Beyond Oak Island

Watch BEYOND OAK ISLAND on the History Channel TONIGHT! 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. Set your DVRs or stream on History Channel tomorrow. Today's the day!