ATOCHA Lower Keys

The Nuestra Senora de Atocha was built in Havana in 1620. She was sunk during a hurricane in 1622. The Atocha was partially salvaged by the Spanish in 1623, but according to John Potter's TREASURE DIVER'S GUIDE, "Before work could be concluded the marker buoy on the wreck was carried away in a storm, and the site was never relocated by the Spaniards." 

The Atocha's final resting place was relocated on July 20, 1985, by treasure hunter, Mel Fisher. This was truly the "mother lode" worth over $300 million. The Atocha had carried 250,000 coins consisting mostly of Potosi mint. To date divers have recovered approximately 175,000 coins.

Photo: Mel Fisher holds treasure he recovered from the Atocha. Courtesy
Mel Fisher.
Coins recovered from the Atocha site. Photo by Daniel Berg, courtesy Carl Fismer.

Basic shipwreck information and images for this section of this site was taken with permission from the book Florida Shipwrecks by Daniel Berg. You are invited to submit your shipwreck related articles, images and information. As long as the text, photographs, sketches etc are of professional quality we will showcase them. Full credit will be provided and a same page link to your web site can be arranged.