Treasure hunters strike gold off Florida coast
March 26th, 2011
06:25 PM ET

Treasure hunters strike gold off Florida coast

The ocean floor off the Florida Keys never seems to stop giving.

Diver Bill Burt with Mel Fisher’s Treasures was looking for a section of the sunken Spanish galleon, Nuestra Senora de Atocha, this week. Instead, he came across a 40- inch gold chain shimmering on the sandy ocean floor about 30 miles from Key West.

The chain, which is believed to have come from the Atocha, contains a gold medallion and a gold cross.  The cross appears to be, according to the salvors, inscribed with Latin letters.  It is estimated to be worth $250,000.

Mel Fisher’s team found a portion of the Atocha and $450 million worth of artifacts and treasure in 1985.  But the contents of the Atocha’s sterncastle, a wooden, fort-shaped area at the back of ship, have never been recovered. The Atocha sank during a hurricane in 1622.  A second hurricane is believed to have torn the sterncastle from the Atocha and carried it miles away.

More on the discovery on Mel Fisher's website
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Filed under: Florida
soundoff (224 Responses)
  1. Jack Ass

    hes a diver or a p0rnstar?

    March 27, 2011 at 1:07 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mustache

      Underwater p0rn. The coolest thing to do in shark off-season.

      Giant mustaches are a requirement though.

      March 27, 2011 at 3:08 pm | Report abuse |
  2. newton

    Anyone can put any value on a piece of jewelry. The true value is what it brings when you try to sell it. Good luck bringing in more than 20K for that piece!

    March 27, 2011 at 1:33 pm | Report abuse |
  3. The Joker

    With that mustache, I'm pretty sure he learned his diving skills at the "YYY M C A!" and "Innn the Naaavy" ...

    March 27, 2011 at 1:43 pm | Report abuse |
  4. chris

    i'm a diver in florida and have never been that lucky, good for him

    March 27, 2011 at 1:47 pm | Report abuse |
    • The Joker

      I'm a diver in Kansas ... for some reason I'm never very lucky, either.

      March 27, 2011 at 1:59 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Steelbull

    He found a treasure at work. Does he own it totally and pay sale tax?

    March 27, 2011 at 2:00 pm | Report abuse |
  6. larso

    I have a portion of a pendant recovered from the Atocha that I have had for 20 years. It is gorgeous!

    March 27, 2011 at 2:00 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Derek

    All gold made 100 years ago around the world as also now ( except Americas) is 24 K . Americas make 14K which is not refined and mixed with other metal. That is why those uneducated school drop outs who post do not know it's value.

    I remeber I bought a $3000 value diamond ring which was for sal;e for $800 at a department store, When I took it to the land where diamonds are cut and made, I was told the value was not more than $100. Only in America you can get cheated not because of the seller but due to gullible nature due to lack of proper education of the buyer!!

    March 27, 2011 at 2:07 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Mustache

    he kinda looks like Quint from the movie Jaws
    http://www.google.com/images?q=jaws+quint&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=94uPTfXAOJOugQfu3JmjDQ&ved=0CDMQsAQ&biw=1728&bih=785

    March 27, 2011 at 3:12 pm | Report abuse |
  9. PlanA

    Looks brand new!

    March 27, 2011 at 4:26 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Broker

    It's aneclace and it's a fake. try getting anything out of the sea within a week and least you get slime all over... the necklace should have been tarnished at least after 400 yrs , even if it's gold. Anyhow, I see that this dude is trying to make a big fuzz about it to be able to sell it to any sucker that has the cash ...

    April 8, 2011 at 5:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • MarkinFL

      Gold doesn't tarnish. At all.

      April 18, 2011 at 11:44 am | Report abuse |
  11. James B.

    While I respect the views of the archeologists that treasure hunters are often destructive, I also recognize the vast greed within me. If I ever find such treasures I will surely keep the discovery to myself and enjoy my new-found loot. I will make every effort to cover my destruction.

    April 10, 2011 at 12:44 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Javier

    How would you US citizens feel if a foreign crew had been diving in the Arizona shipwreck, in Pearl Harbor? Your sailors grave, that´s it.

    June 24, 2011 at 7:56 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Alonzoz Sallsi

    Since the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very rapidly it will be famous, due to its feature contents.

    July 29, 2012 at 11:20 pm | Report abuse |
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