Site Overview

Seafarer received a permit from the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research on July 24th, 2014 for an area south of Cape Canaveral. The permit is jointly owned with a third party and future permits are anticipated in adjacent areas. Permitting is a lengthy and costly process and must be approved by the State of Florida.

Several artifacts, some pictured on our website, have been found by previous salvers and also by Seafarer’s current crew. The artifacts found appear to resemble other artifacts from the 1715 Fleet, which sunk due to a hurricane on July 31st, 1715. The 1715 Fleet was known to have carried significant treasure and historically valuable artifacts, although there is no guarantee of 100% accuracy of the origin of the wreck materials currently being found.

Seafarer has three different work platforms (boats) to work off of with three different crews on the site, as well as a small run about anchor boat. The three work boats have experienced crew members of at least four divers per boat. Seafarer utilizes three archeologists, one with a doctorate from Oxford, and two with over thirty years experience each in the treasure industry.

The Melbourne Beach site will remain Seafarer’s primary focus. When the Juno Beach recovery permit is renewed, Seafarer will actively investigate both sites.

Archeologist, Dr. Robert H. Baer said, “Close examination of the silver plates and flintlock pistol strongly indicate that these artifacts may well serve as diagnostic artifacts that may lead to the identification of the Melbourne Beach shipwreck.”