In this weeks episode of KeysDiveGuide, meet Art McKee, the Father of Modern Treasure Salvage and one of the worlds first Underwater Archaeologists! Enjoy classic footage from the 1940s of Art recovering treasure from LA CAPITANA of the 1733 Fleet, while learning the story of this amazing underwater pioneer. Arts daughter, Karen McKee, carries on her fathers tradition of shipwreck education. Karen displays an impressive collection of LA CAPITANA artifacts at her museum in Tavernier including a gold escudo, a diamond studded religious medallion and a childs rosary. Then, Visit the original (1949) McKee Museum on Plantation Key and check out the 20 foot LA CAPITANA anchor in front of the building. Later, visit Somewhere in Time, Dick Holts outstanding shipwreck museum in Islamorada, and discover a vast trove of LA CAPITANA artifacts including an intact olive jar, a musket ball mold, a sounding lead, navigation dividers and tiny signal cannon for sending smoke signals to other ships of the fleet. In the second half of the show, visit SAN JOSE Y LAS ANIMAS of the 1733 Fleet during an actual salvage operation led by famous shipwreck salvor Carl Frederick. See how a mailbox directs the salvage vessels prop wash 30 feet down to blow a hole in the 3 to 5 foot sand overburden, thus exposing the frame of this ancient galleon. Learn a few components of a ships frame including the keelson, the keel, ribs, riders, futtocks, limber holes, ceiling planks, and wooden fasteners called trennels. Check out a Terredo infestation in the wood frame that could have hastened the sinking of SAN JOSE. The real treasure of the 1733 Plate Fleet shipwrecks is the ability to step back in time, if only for a few minutes, and explore the secrets and beauty of the grave sites these galleons picked to spend eternity - 280 years ago! Galleon Hunter - A Florida Keys Dive Odyssey Copyright 1996(VHS), 2003(DVD) and 2012(YouTube) by Don Ferguson Productions ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Conceived, Shot on Location, Scripted, Narrated, Produced and Edited by Don Ferguson. Contact- (865) 438-6176. Website linked to KeysDiveGuide Channel.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 14:05:29 +0000
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