1622 Lost Galleon: The Hunt For The World's Most Valuable Shipwreck | Myth Hunters
Mel Fisher dedicates his entire life and savings to finding the Spanish galleon, Nuestra Señora de Atocha. Can his optimism prevail where the odds are against him?
Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Matt Lewis and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code 'TIMELINE' 👉 access.historyhit.com/
You can find more from us on:
/ timelinewh
/ timelineworldhistory
/ timelinewh
This channel is part of the History Hit Network. Any queries, please contact owned-enquiries@littledotstudios.com
Пікірлер: 488
Watch the Dive Detective team discover one of the greatest finds of their career in the bone-crushing depths of the Balabac Strait. kzread.info/dash/bejne/e2Z92K2xpJvUaLA.html
If i was already rich i would spend most of my money searching for treasures. Not to become richer but just for the adventure of it
@robertmaybeth3434
Ай бұрын
OK maybe you understand it, but I'm still baffled at why the Lagina brothers are spending millions of dollars plus years digging up one billion buckets of dirt from Oak Island. Seems to me all they mainly find is more dirt.
@lisadolan689
Ай бұрын
Oak Island.
@lisadolan689
Ай бұрын
@@robertmaybeth3434they’re having fun
@nancymilawski1048
Ай бұрын
@@robertmaybeth3434they are also finding wood. They are also trying to figure out what was constructed there in the swamp, when and by who.
@nancymilawski1048
Ай бұрын
Yes and there were 2 other ships that sank at the same time.
Redondo Beach native here. Mel is still a legend here. RIP Dirk and Angel.
I wish this documentary would have lasted forever, I enjoyed this❤.
@LoganJohnson-lm2bh
Ай бұрын
Well his son is still at it maybe there will be more
@Aranjuez44
Ай бұрын
OHHH, SO DO I !!!! I SO WISH I COULD JOIN IN THAT TREASURE SEARCH!!😀👍
@theplamaser
Ай бұрын
Ads help
@johnnybingstrom2427
8 күн бұрын
Amazing and super exciting story for the Greatest search in history👏🌟💫☀️😀💸💸💸💸🥂🥂🥂
This story is practically BEGGING to be made into a feature film!!
@spirithope
Ай бұрын
❤❤😂❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
@robertliepe6766
Ай бұрын
💯👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@rlopez11-11
Ай бұрын
How? Why? What story?
@japponica
Ай бұрын
There is a film already about this many years ago
@robertmaybeth3434
28 күн бұрын
@@rlopez11-11 Story of how Mel Fisher found the Atocha's incredible treasure of the gold and silver worth billions, in the unforgiving ocean, with only 400 year old Spanish records as a guide, it's incredible really, but oh what a tragic price Fisher paid to find it.
It must be extremely difficult to find uncut emeralds on the sea floor! Great story, thanks.
@Bruceless
Ай бұрын
I was thinking exactly the same! You'd just keep burying the gems every thrust of the props!
@xandersmith6619
14 күн бұрын
They use vacuum pumps to suck up debris and cull out whatever is not treasure. There are many other ways but this is more effective.
Truly one of the greatest stories of all time.
Why isnt there a movie of this story, surely it needs to be made
@seeDiersoilcrossrowds
Ай бұрын
Making a great movie is like hunting for success which depends on how much you have invested in such a great treasure hunt... Box office smash or box office flop.
@dandeehart9553
Ай бұрын
Because the stars of this story are not the correct ideological ’’D.E.I.’’ color. 😒.
@bentleyrainwater7734
Ай бұрын
The Matthew McConaughey movie Fool's Gold was kind inspired by Mel and the treasure shown at the end of the movie was from Mel's museum.
@craigbosko2229
Ай бұрын
THERE WAS A MOVIE BASED ON THE ACHOA (sorry my spelling is off) AND YOU CAN STILL BUY THE MOVIE ON DVD , THE NAME OF THE MOVIE : THE DEEP w/ NICK NOLTY, JACKLYN SMITH AND ROBERT SHAW , EXCELLENT SUPERB MOVIE, THE KIND OF MOVIE THAT YOU NEVER GET TIRED OF, YOU CAN KEEP WATCHING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.ROBERT SHAW IS PROTRAYING MEL FISHER.IV'E ALWAYS LOVED MOVIE'S WHEN THEY SHOW UNDERWATER DIVING, SUNKEN TREASURE, IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WORLD WHEN DIVING IN THE OCEAN.ANOTHER MOVIE ACTOR IN THE MOVIE IS,LOU GUSSET JR.
@brian3971
Ай бұрын
@@craigbosko2229 you don't need to yell
Mel showed that long gold chain to a friend of mine in either Bermuda or the Bahamas and my friend became an investor. I have a 4 Reales coin that he gave me that came from the wreck. What a great documentary...wouldn't we all have loved to have been a part of that discovery?
The real life Indy Jones. Thank you Mr Fisher and sons. For finding this for everyone to see.
@savapantic8735
Ай бұрын
Don’t forget his daughter Taffi
Mell earned every bit of his treasure find. If not for Mells innovation and perserverance, the treasure would still be laying on the bottom of the ocean. Congratulations to Mells family on the incredible find.
@yiannimil1
Ай бұрын
How did that help society? Grave robbers are not contributing citizens!
@TERoss-jk9ny
Ай бұрын
@@yiannimil1: Because it shows history. Do you think the dead care about being disturbed? Re-think your comment.
@Ambassador_Gkar
Ай бұрын
@@yiannimil1 Humanity HAS committed that act, for millennia! Who do you think stole all the Egyptian artefacts/treasure, from burial sites 🤨 What about the Spanish who not only committed genocide, against the South American Peoples, in the form of giving them smallpox, but also by large scale murder, all for THEIR treasures! What a moron!
@Ambassador_Gkar
Ай бұрын
@@yiannimil1 👎👎👎
I loved this story. I'm still beaming every time I think of it. I'm so happy for this family and especially Mell , the man who knew he could , had the determination and drive to follow his dream and lived to enjoy his success. ❤❤❤
@guitarsoundsaround
Ай бұрын
Amazing story! I didn’t realize they could use metal detectors in the water. The amount of artifacts they gathered must be incredible. Super cool old treasures!
I watch stories of Mel Fisher and the Atocha every spring when the weather here in Michigan starts to warm up. I dive here looking for rings and jewelry every summer, of course it is nothing like this by any stretch but every time I find a gold ring or necklace I'm on cloud nine for a week! Metal detecting underwater or land is a great hobby!
@ethansmith8813
Ай бұрын
You too? I love me a good lake Huron free dive
@maxsands3861
Ай бұрын
@@ethansmith8813 My favorite lake. Good luck out there Eathan.
@TexasPlugRiches
Ай бұрын
A wonderful hobby that I wish I had discovered earlier in life!
@maxsands3861
Ай бұрын
@@TexasPlugRiches Me too! Good luck out there TexasPlugRiches!
i love timeline docs this has to be one of the best youtube channels
This is a wonderful chronicle of a dream, with lifelong perseverance, ingenuity, tragedy, and glory. So glad I watched.❤❤❤
A wonderful film!! I myself had dreams of treasure hunting. As a child my next door neighbor was in the coast guard off of Florida. He told me of times when they were flying helicopters they could see canons on the sea bed in shallow waters. I temember to this day how wonderful that must have been... Thank you for this great film Dan Young Denver CO
Finally a documentary about Mel Fisher. Only it's named after something else.
@Ickie71
Ай бұрын
this is so olde!this is not new and weve alls een this plenty of times,its boring now.
I live on the Treasure coast here in Florida . The best time to go looking is right after a hurricane on the beach.
@patrickmanasco5905
18 күн бұрын
Better in the water but not allowed
@Chamonix.frequently
10 күн бұрын
I think everyone knows that much anyway , tell everyone where it's all at because it's certainly not in CA !
Its one of those documentaries that leaves you satisfied. ❤
❤ This story is the best, most inspiring ,entertaining show ever. Rest in peace, brothers.
I have a small "piece of eight" that I bought from the Atocha for $ 75 over 25 yrs ago. It is about the size of a quarter with gold dolphins around the top. It was appraised 5 yrs ago for $400, I wished I could have bought a bigger one like the divers wear in this show
@DillonDaVillain222
Ай бұрын
Still just having one at all is awesome anyway!
@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg
Ай бұрын
That's still a fair few Mc Happy Meals
@worthyland4104
Ай бұрын
Want to sell it?
@katehorrell8732
Ай бұрын
@@worthyland4104 nope sorry
@michaelcheli5842
Ай бұрын
You're still very fortunate to have a piece of the original treasure..
This story is a treasure for all to visit , laugh and cry , it’s bitter sweet , as life
They didn't mention how they had to fight Florida for years over the treasure, and won. I also didn't see a picture of the beautiful Emerald encrusted gold cross that they found on the wreck. From what I read years ago someone made a replica of it went into their Museum took the real one out of the case and put the fake one in. I never heard if it was ever found or not.
@lovelyj241
Ай бұрын
Wow
@guitarsoundsaround
Ай бұрын
Wow! Cool they have a museum too!
Today is the day!.....thank you Mr. Fisher!!!! You are my inspiration!
@spirithope
Ай бұрын
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
@rlopez11-11
Ай бұрын
When? Where?
Yes! The flux gate magnetometer. The pre cursor to the flux capacitor.
@richierich440007
Ай бұрын
Correct and the only thing that came to mind when I heard it 🥳 Bravo, touché 🤺
@rpalmer274
Ай бұрын
Hahaha
@dionbryant330
Ай бұрын
🤣
@andrewmckeown6786
Ай бұрын
"Marty. I told you!" "emiliog knows about 'the flux capacitor'!" "If we dont make contact, we risk being stuck in 2021...Forever!!!" "We Just Can't Risk It!!
@jibinc.alabado6075
Ай бұрын
1.21 gigawatts!😂
Every time I watch this it's an inspiration to go treasure hunting.
This is the stuff I love to see, absolutely brilliant..
This is one of the best stories i have ever heard.
This is awesome! I grew up in Sebastian FL and went to elementary school with Mel’s grandson. The treasure museum on US1 is incredible. What a dream come true
Nobody talkin about the bronze cannons. I wanna see those bad boys. Also must be worth a fortune.
What a wonderful story! Thank you.
So happy you guys shared your story ❤
Disappointed Mel’s wife was only mentioned once.. just to say that she’s his wife. She played a big part of the success of the team and selflessly dedicated herself to supporting and taking care of not only the family but all the young divers on the team.
@bigtalljimm
Ай бұрын
I'm ok with it
@patrickmanasco5905
18 күн бұрын
I almost agree but it’s abt the treasure not Mel, he’s just the main focus cuz he was the one discovering it…
@hey_youtubeim_back2159
18 күн бұрын
Ok Stephen, get back in the kitchen
@StevenMiller-cx4rr
13 күн бұрын
So she did what she agreed to do?
@stephanieparker1250
13 күн бұрын
@@StevenMiller-cx4rr like everyone else on the team did?
Back in the early 1990s I purchased a silver ingot melted down from one of those original huge Attocha silver bars. They melted the ingot in the exact shape with exactly the same markings on it that the original huge silver bar had on it to be hung on a chain as a necklace. The Fishers treasure used to tour all over America back then and displayed and sold many items. Still have that ingot today. I am still fascinated that it was silver from that ship.
You would almost think that the crew threw overboard all the weight they could to keep it afloat.
@robertmaybeth3434
Ай бұрын
That's an amazing thought, maybe they did that.
@dgcaz1
Ай бұрын
I was actually thinking that maybe they dumped a few cannons to keep the ship from floundering. The one thing that wasn't mentioned but I'm curious about: how did they keep treasure seekers from heading out and stealing whatever they could find. Because it didn't seem like they were quiet about the find. They announced it on the radio for God's sake. Dad get to work we've found it must have polarized the entire town lol. 😮😮😮
For all the people asking about a movie there is a movie about this great find. Dreams of Gold : The mel fisher story
Favorite episode by far.
Timeline - World History Documentaries, I really enjoyed watching this, so I hit the like button!
Not too many people with that kind of stick-to-it-tiveness. He & his team deserved to realize their dream.
Archeology is my most favorite subject.
Follow that dream! Without faith, nothing is possible… but with faith, anything is!
Great video as always.
Excellent program 😊
What's tough is finding Treasure then losing it. I found a 1943 copper penny and lost it . I found another treasure and lost it. I found another one and lost it also . Then there's the other one that is still there if I can get back to it. I made a long list of all the finds I've made and was shocked at how many I've lost ..My advice if you ever find anything that is questionable stop- take your time and get exact location and samples. Also study minerals and mining and treasure symbols ,geology and hydrology every day so that when you are out exploring and find something you will know what you have . I have found so many things and not known what they were only to come across some article or information years later and then realize what I had in my hands was treasure ...
Excellent documentary 💯👏
I was a teen growing up in Indiana after Mel Fisher found the Atocha. My Dad was friends with John Dorwin who was an Archeologist by trade. John was brought on by Fisher to help on the project. John would bounce back and forth from Florida back home to see his family in Indiana. I use to go over to his house and use his library. He once told me if I got scuba certified I could work for him and Fisher in Florida.
In the early eighties my Dad took us to the Mel Fisher museum in Key West. The walls inside were lined with the silver bars 3 high. It was awesome to see all the treasures. My Dad later in life bought a gold cross from the Atocha.
How long did it take Spain to come after them for their cut? Im sure the US didnt waste a second.
@CaptainCraigKWMRZ
Ай бұрын
Everyone filed A claim. Everyone lost. I was Mel's bookkeeper/diver.
@brianmoran1196
Ай бұрын
@@CaptainCraigKWMRZ I was hoping to hear that
@antsbradley
Ай бұрын
@@CaptainCraigKWMRZ How did you stop other treasure hunters from salvaging in the area where they saw your boat once it was known you found the motherload?
@heaven-is-real
Ай бұрын
His own son died looking for the treasure. Did someone from Spain die looking for it? NO
@albertozepeda1939
Ай бұрын
265 died losing it tho@@heaven-is-real
Great story
Absolutely thrilling
I read the book a few years ago. This is a great story.
@dcat663
27 күн бұрын
What’s the name of the book? I love this story
@spokes28
27 күн бұрын
@@dcat663 Treasure of the Atocha, by R. Duncan Mathewson III, with forward by Mel Fisher.
That is just Brilliant! I'm glad he ,Mel,was able to have hus dreams come true ,God Bless him,and may his family, find the rest ,and stay safe 🙏 💙
This case remember me the case of Odyssey Marine Corp discovery the ship " Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes" in this case a judge in Florida he agrees to Spanish goberment and Odyssey have to return the ship cargo 500.000 coins of gold and silver value in haundreds of milliins dollars actually conserved in Marine Museum in Cartagena .
What an amazing story, thank you
The most valuable shipwreck is a Spanish galleon named the San Jose that sunk off the coast of Colombia, worth over $18 Billion dollars
I lived in St John USVI from 2007-2010. There was a guy that lived there that we called "Pirate Bill". He was a crusty old diver that worked with Mel on the Atocha. He always wore one of the silver doubloons as a medallion around his neck.
So exciting to watch your successes!! Thanks for sharing.
Great doco.
A sad but happy story... yet the dream lives on.
Wish I had grew up with your dad, I would have followed him anywhere ❤
@The_Bass_Stunters
Ай бұрын
His Son would say other wise.
My mom went to high school with him in Gary Indiana
His treasure shop is on my bucket list to visit.
Sounds like the guy had the fever.Boy, and the guy was a visionary. Wished I had the honor of meeting him.Cannot imagine the amount of hours devoted by the divers to search. What a loss it must have been to lose his son. What an inspiring father.
Very few achieve their dreams. Well done Mr. Fisher and family. May those lost to time rest in peace. Sincerely Akerace Drill.
Mel was and remains a marvel
I'm sure the Conquistadors attained all this fairly & in good faith. Imagine if all that artwork done by the indigenous metal craftsmen hadn't been melted down into easily handled bars !!! What would we see that we might learn from ?
@guitarsoundsaround
Ай бұрын
Truly fastinating how they made such treasures and crafts with limited technology. Indeed beautiful artwork and artifacts.
I love those people and the family
This needs to be a movie ❤
Ships during storms drop cannons for weight loss, so it's a debris trail of the disaster before her final resting location.
That was awesome
awesome documentary! love every second of it!
Wonderful. Dedication. Dreams... hope.. possibilities. And heartache for the family. God Bless. Keep on going. Good Luck
I think of Billy Bob everytime Mel's son is on
@aloysha.yudkin301
Ай бұрын
Very near site
Man with today's video game graphics, you could make an incredible treasure hunting game.
Now that was worth watching incredible findings.
What an incredible story!
Amazing story. A man’s dream became his son’s dream, that would eventually cost his son his life. Then years later on the day of the anniversary marking his passing they find the treasure. I’m sure this brought him great closure and also made him feel closer to his son than he had felt since loosing him. Amazing story of how anyone can accomplish their dreams with enough love, time, perseverance, and a little bit of luck at the right time. 👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏 Don’t quote me, but I think it was Tyler Perry that said something along the lines of, “If people don’t laugh at your dreams, your dreams aren’t big enough…”
wow! how fantastic! thank you, what an amazing documentary 🥰
That was Aztec Gold and treasure!!!👍🏼💯
Alisdair Simpson, one of the best historian and exceptional voiceover artists❤
Shows u how brutal the ocean can be to roll a shipwreck across the bottom of the ocean for miles
Great vid but calm down in the ads.
The self belief that Mel Fisher had was staggering & totally justified. What, a, man.
it amazed me the treasures under salt water for 300 yrs. is as shinny and brand new as it was first bought from the store
@Midwest10
Ай бұрын
They are polished
@nphipps9406
Ай бұрын
@@Midwest10 for sure, a replay from the original find
This is a fascinating video!
Seems he was more relying on luck after all those years than actual skill and instinct. But his obsession pushed him forward. His family was very tolerant
How did you keep other treasure hunters from getting to it?
@nenge_mboko
28 күн бұрын
he had secured the legal rights to that site. To this day you can't just go out there and search the area for treasure.
I remember when they announced on the news about it. And all the legal trouble that followed.
Absolutely amazing adventure...dreams can come true...
Wow they had deadly hurricanes back then I thought it was just global warm ! 😝
This should be a movie
This is a great story,,,I wish I would known about Mel Fisher back then.. I would went there & hung out till they let me get on 1 of there boats so I could have witness the find of a life time,,,,at my age I think about Mel & his crews a lot,,,,,o well more to come ,,,I hope…
Maybe they started throwing heavy loads off the ship as it took on water to delay the sinking.
Hey 👋🏼 it’s your long lost cousin
@shellshock000
Ай бұрын
Hey Cuz! 👍🏻😉😆
It's truelly amazing.im happy for this family
AMAZING. 🙏
So there's Oak Islands treasure. ❤ congrats on the find!
That is amazing!
What a wonderful story
when you love your work it can easily progress to better things