Florida's Sunken Treasures: Where Good Ships Go to Take a Nap (Forever)
An underwater wide shot of the SS Tarpon wreck off Panama City Beach. The iron-hulled steamship stands upright and largely intact on the sandy seabed, about 95 feet deep. Schools of colorful tropical fish swarm around its decks and superstructure
Florida's Sunken Treasures: Where Good Ships Go to Take a Nap (Forever)
Florida — sunshine, sandy beaches, and a surprising number of very expensive mistakes resting on the sea floor. Our coastal waters are home not only to tourists and manatees, but to dozens of ships that ended up sleeping the long sleep beneath the waves.
Each wreck has a story — sometimes a tale of hurricanes, sometimes reefs, and sometimes human error — but all of them open a window into maritime history and the passage of time.
We’ll tour the grand treasure fleets, famous single-ship losses, and intentional artificial reefs that now teem with life. Along the way you’ll get historical context, notable artifacts, and practical notes for divers and visitors.
A quick note before we dive: many of these sites are protected as underwater archaeological preserves. Please look, don’t touch, and never remove artifacts — preserving these places keeps history intact for future generations.
The Grand Dames of Disaster: Historic Treasure Wrecks
First up are the legendary fleets and galleons whose lost cargoes turned stretches of the coast into literal treasure troves — and into some of Florida’s most compelling shipwreck sites.
The 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet: A Really Bad Day at the Office
In July 1715, a convoy of Spanish galleons — the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet — was steaming northward along the Florida coast loaded with cargo from Spain’s New World colonies: silver pesos, gold coins and bars, and assorted riches bound for Europe.
A powerful hurricane struck off present-day Vero Beach, scattering the fleet and sending eleven of the twelve vessels to the bottom. The storm transformed this stretch of shoreline into what is still called the "Treasure Coast," where centuries of storms and shifting sands have kept sunken treasures close to shore.
Salvage efforts began almost immediately — Spanish recovery parties in the months after the wreck, followed by intermittent salvage over the next few hundred years. Modern recovery efforts have produced large quantities of coins, silver bars, jewelry and ship fittings; exact totals vary by source, and many finds remain in museums, private collections and legal disputes.
The Urca de Lima, one of the fleet’s vessels, is now a designated Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve, which means the site is protected for research and public education. Visitors and divers can view interpreted areas, but removing artifacts is illegal — a reminder that these shipwrecks are both archaeological sites and cultural patrimony.
Why this matters: the 1715 fleet and its wrecks illuminate early-18th-century trade, the flow of gold and silver from the New World, and how hurricanes and reefs could doom a vessel — and change an entire area’s history — in a single event.
Nuestra Señora de Atocha and Santa Margarita (1622): The Deep-Sea Superstars
The Nuestra Señora de Atocha—and her consort the Santa Margarita—are among the most famous shipwrecks in Florida's maritime history. These Spanish galleons were part of transatlantic traffic carrying cargoes of gold, silver, and emeralds from the New World (notably Colombia, Panama and Cuba) when they foundered in 1622 off the Florida Keys during a hurricane.
An underwater scene at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Shipwreck Trail. A diver (easily identifiable as a certified diver by equipment) is carefully exploring the barnacle-encrusted hull of the City of Washington.
The loss vaulted the wrecks into legend: the Atocha in particular contained vast quantities of coins, silver bars and jeweled items that made it one of the most valuable shipwrecks ever documented. That cache and the story behind it captured public imagination for centuries and drew professional treasure hunters and divers alike.
Discovery and salvage: after decades of searching, Mel Fisher and his team located significant Atocha material in 1985. The finds included thousands of silver coins, gold bars and emeralds—artifacts that illuminated 17th-century Spanish trade routes and cargo composition. Recovery continued for years, producing important archaeological material as well as high-profile treasure.
Legal and historical significance: the Atocha recovery triggered lengthy legal disputes over ownership and salvage rights, including cases involving the State of Florida.
Those disputes helped clarify modern laws governing shipwreck finds and emphasized the distinction between commercial salvage and archaeological stewardship.
Why it matters today: beyond the headline-grabbing riches, the Atocha and Santa Margarita shipwrecks are valuable underwater archaeological sites. The artifacts and ship remains provide concrete evidence of trade, cargo composition, and life aboard galleons in the 17th century—turning sunken treasures into lessons about history and maritime commerce.
San Pedro (1733): The Porcelain Purveyor's Plunge
The San Pedro was one of the ships in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet, carrying Mexican silver pesos and delicate Chinese porcelain — high-value cargo that reflected the global trade links of the era.
In a violent hurricane in 1733, several plate fleet vessels foundered in the Straits of Florida; the San Pedro went down near Indian Key.
Today the San Pedro wreck is managed as part of Florida’s system of underwater archaeological preserves and functions as an accessible dive and snorkel site in the Florida Keys. Visitors can see structural remains and typical artifacts such as a cannon, anchor, and ballast stones; intact porcelain is rare because of damage over time and salvage activity.
Practical notes: the site is shallow and popular with snorkelers and certified divers, but protections mean you must not remove artifacts or disturb the reef. Expect to encounter abundant marine life — reef fish, corals and sponges — which have colonized the wreck and turned cargo and hull into a living habitat.
Why it matters: the San Pedro and other 1733 fleet wrecks illustrate the risks of 18th-century ocean travel, the importance of the Caribbean trade in silver and goods, and how wreck sites now serve both as historical records and as vibrant artificial reefs supporting marine life.
A dramatic underwater shot of the USS Spiegel Grove. The massive former Navy transport ship lies on its side in Key Largo. Divers (multiple, equipped for deep dives) are dwarfed by its sheer scale, exploring gaping doorways and corridors, with light filtering through openings in the hull, highlighting the ship's internal structure.
The Solo Acts: Noteworthy Individual Wrecks
Beyond the famous fleets, Florida’s waters host many singular shipwrecks — each with its own story, artifacts, and modern role as a historic site or dive attraction. Below are concise profiles using a consistent template: date — what happened — notable finds — current status and why it matters.
Emanuel Point Wreck (1559)
Date & incident: Part of Tristán de Luna y Arellano’s 1559 expedition, several vessels were lost in Pensacola Bay in storms and navigational mishaps.
Notable artifacts: Discovered in 1992, the site yielded well-preserved hull timbers, ceramic sherds, nails, and period artifacts that speak to 16th-century provisioning and colonial attempts.
Current status & significance: The remarkably intact remains provide archaeologists with rare data on five-century-old ship construction and early colonial life — evidence that helps rewrite Florida’s early European history.
Henrietta Marie (c.1700–1701)
Date & incident: The Henrietta Marie sank in the early 1700s after a career as a transatlantic slave-trading vessel; it was located off Key West decades later.
Notable artifacts: Archaeological work recovered shackles, trade goods and other material culture associated with the slave trade.
Current status & significance: Identified as one of the earliest named slave-trade shipwrecks, Henrietta Marie is treated with solemn respect; its finds are crucial for understanding the human and material history of the transatlantic slave trade.
Lofthus (1898)
Date & incident: The iron-hulled Norwegian barque Lofthus grounded and was wrecked off Boynton Beach in 1898.
Notable artifacts: Structural ironwork and scattered deck fittings remain at the site.
Current status & significance: Now a Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve, the Lofthus functions as a thriving marine habitat where corals, sponges and fish have colonized the wreck — an example of how wrecks become living reef homes over years.
SS Tarpon (1937)
Date & incident: The iron-hulled steamship SS Tarpon sank in 1937 off Panama City Beach during a severe storm, with loss of life.
Notable artifacts: The vessel remains largely intact and upright on the bottom.
Current status & significance: At roughly 95 feet, the Tarpon is a classic deep dive for certified divers. It is treated as a somber historical site and an engaging exploration that illustrates 20th-century coastal shipping and the human costs of maritime disasters.
A treasure chest or ancient artifact partially buried in the sand next to a heavily deteriorated wooden galleon wreck.
City of Washington (1917)
Date & incident: Built in the late 19th century and notable for assisting rescue operations after the USS Maine explosion in 1898, the City of Washington later sank in 1917 during a hurricane.
Notable artifacts: Structural remains and period fittings are present along the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s Shipwreck Trail.
Current status & significance: As part of the Shipwreck Trail, the City of Washington is an accessible historic site where divers can connect with maritime history while observing how wrecks become important sites for marine life and underwater archaeology.
Practical notes for divers and visitors: many of these sites are protected — check local regulations and sanctuary rules before visiting,
obtain appropriate certification for depth (the SS Tarpon requires advanced/technical skills), and never remove artifacts. Respectful observation preserves archaeological context and the marine life that now calls these wrecks home.
The Volunteers: Ships That Chose to Sink (Almost)
Not all wrecks are accidents. Some vessels have been intentionally sunk to create artificial reefs — purpose-built sites that provide habitat for marine life and memorable experiences for divers while relieving pressure on natural reefs.
USS Spiegel Grove (2002) — Key Largo
A split-level view, showing the violent churn of a 1937 storm on the ocean's surface above, with dark, heavy clouds and crashing waves. Below the waterline, the spectral outline of the SS Tarpon is sinking
Quick facts: intentionally sunk in 2002 as an artificial reef and dive attraction. Depth and experience: sections of the Spiegel Grove sit in deep water that typically require advanced certification for safe penetration dives; many recreational dives focus on exterior exploration.
Marine life & highlights: large pelagics, reef fish, corals, and encrusting life have colonized the ship, turning the former Navy transport into a thriving underwater home.
USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (2009) — off Key West
Quick facts: sunk in 2009 as one of Florida’s largest artificial reefs and a major technical-diving destination. Depth and experience: the Vandenberg rests at greater depth, making it suited to experienced technical divers with appropriate training and equipment.
Marine life & highlights: the structure supports dense coral and sponge communities and attracts larger species that patrol the wreck.
Practical guidance: before diving any intentionally sunk wreck, check local regulations and sanctuary rules, confirm required certifications, and dive with an operator familiar with the site.
These wrecks illustrate how retired ships can become purposeful additions to coastal ecosystems — engineered sunken treasures that benefit marine biodiversity while offering compelling historical interest for divers.
Dive In! Preserving Our Underwater Past
Florida’s shipwrecks — from treasure-laden galleons to purpose-sunk naval vessels — are more than dramatic stories; they are time capsules that reveal trade networks, cargo movements of gold and silver, and chapters of maritime history along Florida’s coast.
These sunken treasures now support marine life and provide unique sites for divers and snorkelers to experience the ocean’s layered past.
Many wrecks and sites have been designated as Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserves or fall within National Marine Sanctuary boundaries to balance public access with protection.
That legal framework helps ensure artifacts and context are preserved for researchers, museums, and future generations rather than becoming scattered private riches.
Before you visit: check site rules and sanctuary guidance, dive with a licensed operator, and confirm the certification required for depth (some wrecks and artificial reefs need advanced or technical qualifications).
When on a wreck or reef, follow simple etiquette — look, photograph, and report finds to authorities; never remove artifacts or disturb the site — this is the best way to keep these underwater monuments intact.
How you can help: support local conservation groups, follow marine-protection regulations, and spread the word about respectful diving.
These wrecks are both historical records and living habitats; protecting them preserves biodiversity and the stories locked in the timbers and cargo for years to come.
Respectful curiosity keeps the treasures of the deep where they belong — as lessons, habitat, and shared heritage. Dive safely, dive informed, and leave the valuables in place so others can discover the same wonders beneath Florida’s waters.
"Thanks for reading. Until next time, keep exploring Florida's peculiar charm!"
Florida Unwritten Staff
