Valuable Archaeological Findings That Have Shaped History Over Milennia

Submerged since 1622 off Key West, the Santa Margarita’s remains eluded discovery till Mel Fisher’s 1980 expedition unveiled its long-concealed bounty, despite early Spanish salvage efforts on a nearby reef.

With a formidable arsenal of 24 cannons and laden with treasures worth $16 million, the Santa Margarita ranked as the second most valuable ship next to the Nuestra Senora de Atocha among her fleet.