Atocha Treasure Company
"Largest Selection Of Shipwreck Coins On The Internet"
© 2007 Atocha Treasure Company LLC All Rights Reserved
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Atocha Treasure Company © 2007 Atocha Treasure Company LLC All Rights Reserved |
| When we surfaced, the officer in a marine patrol uniform waved, friendly enough for us to feel we hadn't done anything wrong. "Finding anything?" "Just bronze spikes and a few unwelcome sea urchins," I replied. "The guys down on Little Conch Reef are finding a few silver coins. Thought you'd like to know." I nodded, "Thanks, we appreciate that." Before he disappeared northward we had our anchor up and were full throttling it the 3/4 mile or so south to where three boats lay anchored a few yards apart. In one of the 18-foot outboards a diver was just hauling himself in over the stern. We dropped anchor about 100 feet away and swam over to introduce myself. |
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| Craig Hamilton was a slightly but muscular built diver, about my age, who had an easy smile and great twinkle in his eyes. "Come on board and have a cup of coffee." I shook hands and waved an arm in the direction of Big Splash, snorkeling over the edge of the reef. "That's Dr. Harry Wiseman from the University of Miami." I explained the reason we were there. "Marine Patrol said you were finding a few silver coins." Craig shook his head, "I'll have to learn to keep my mouth shut. When you say something to the Marine Patrol it's like advertising in the newspapers." I found out later that he really didn't mind newcomers if they were serious salvagers, but "Weekenders...uugghh!" Up until that time Harry and I were...uugghh weekenders! | |
| He pulled a Tupperware container out of the boat box and opened the lid. In it were several small blackened shapes. "We're picking up a few cob coins." I didn't know a cob coin from a corn cob, but I wasn't about to let Craig know it. Gesturing down at the huge ballast pile directly below his boat I asked, "What wreck is this?" "It's the El Infante, one of the Spanish 1733 ships. Not much on her, pretty well salvaged by the Spanish, but it's a fun dive and not too deep." |
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| We chatted awhile, and he suggested that if I were real serious about salvaging treasure, I should drop by his house and he would show me some of the things they were bringing up. As it turned out we were neighbors in South Miami. I thanked him and slid over the side to take my first look at the wreck site that some day would become the most visited shipwreck in the Florida Keys. I was not disappointed. | |
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1715 Fleet Spanish Plate Fleet |
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Order Toll Free 800-650-9030
239-948-6915
Fax 239-949-9537
9am to 5pm
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© 2007 Atocha Treasure Company LLC All Rights Reserved
| Visit These Other Great Atocha Treasure And Spanish Shipwreck Coin Sites |
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