1622 Lost Galleon: The Hunt For The World's Most Valuable Shipwreck | Myth Hunters | Timeline

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?
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[@jritechnology]

Redondo Beach native here. Mel is still a legend here. RIP Dirk and Angel.

[@asburycollins9182]

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]

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]

Oak Island.

[@lisadolan689]

@@robertmaybeth3434they’re having fun

[@nancymilawski1048]

​@@robertmaybeth3434they are also finding wood. They are also trying to figure out what was constructed there in the swamp, when and by who.

[@nancymilawski1048]

Yes and there were 2 other ships that sank at the same time.

[@Jebbie1976]

This story is practically BEGGING to be made into a feature film!!

[@spirithope]

❤❤😂❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@robertliepe6766]

💯👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@rlopez11-11]

How? Why? What story?

[@japponica]

There is a film already about this many years ago

[@davidm4160]

Truly one of the greatest stories of all time.

[@patrickguillory-yy2gu]

I wish this documentary would have lasted forever, I enjoyed this❤.

[@LoganJohnson-lm2bh]

Well his son is still at it maybe there will be more

[@Aranjuez44]

OHHH, SO DO I !!!! I SO WISH I COULD JOIN IN THAT TREASURE SEARCH!!😀👍

[@theplamaser]

Ads help

[@Cobbmtngirl]

It must be extremely difficult to find uncut emeralds on the sea floor! Great story, thanks.

[@Bruceless]

I was thinking exactly the same! You'd just keep burying the gems every thrust of the props!

[@pjhunton]

Why isnt there a movie of this story, surely it needs to be made

[@seeDiersoilcrossrowds]

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]

Because the stars of this story are not the correct ideological ’’D.E.I.’’ color. 😒.

[@bentleyrainwater7734]

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]

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]

@@craigbosko2229 you don't need to yell

[@carlitobunz]

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

[@michaelcheli5842]

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]

How did that help society? Grave robbers are not contributing citizens!

[@TERoss-jk9ny]

@@yiannimil1: Because it shows history. Do you think the dead care about being disturbed? Re-think your comment.

[@Ambassador_Gkar]

@@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]

@@yiannimil1 👎👎👎

[@Frank-qs3pe]

I live on the Treasure coast here in Florida . The best time to go looking is right after a hurricane on the beach.

[@charlesharbin8641]

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]

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!

[@katehorrell8732]

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]

Still just having one at all is awesome anyway!

[@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg]

That's still a fair few Mc Happy Meals

[@worthyland4104]

Want to sell it?

[@katehorrell8732]

@@worthyland4104 nope sorry

[@michaelcheli5842]

You're still very fortunate to have a piece of the original treasure..

[@user-xq2of4fj6e]

Finally a documentary about Mel Fisher. Only it's named after something else.

[@Ickie71]

this is so olde!this is not new and weve alls een this plenty of times,its boring now.

[@scarlettg6136]

This is a wonderful chronicle of a dream, with lifelong perseverance, ingenuity, tragedy, and glory. So glad I watched.❤❤❤

[@AndrewLee-cg6uk]

i love timeline docs this has to be one of the best youtube channels

[@emiliog.4432]

Yes! The flux gate magnetometer. The pre cursor to the flux capacitor.

[@richierich440007]

Correct and the only thing that came to mind when I heard it 🥳 Bravo, touché 🤺

[@rpalmer274]

Hahaha

[@dionbryant330]

🤣

[@andrewmckeown6786]

"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]

1.21 gigawatts!😂

[@decisions7207]

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]

Wow

[@guitarsoundsaround]

Wow! Cool they have a museum too!

[@chainesaw]

❤ This story is the best, most inspiring ,entertaining show ever. Rest in peace, brothers.

[@maxsands3861]

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]

You too? I love me a good lake Huron free dive

[@maxsands3861]

@@ethansmith8813 My favorite lake. Good luck out there Eathan.

[@TexasPlugRiches]

A wonderful hobby that I wish I had discovered earlier in life!

[@maxsands3861]

@@TexasPlugRiches Me too! Good luck out there TexasPlugRiches!

[@danielyoung2487]

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

[@juanm9182]

That was Aztec Gold and treasure!!!👍🏼💯

[@jameskelly7782]

Today is the day!.....thank you Mr. Fisher!!!! You are my inspiration!

[@spirithope]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@rlopez11-11]

When? Where?

[@svenmartin840]

The real life Indy Jones. Thank you Mr Fisher and sons. For finding this for everyone to see.

[@savapantic8735]

Don’t forget his daughter Taffi

[@davidnorth3411]

This story is a treasure for all to visit , laugh and cry , it’s bitter sweet , as life

[@paulaolson6535]

Archeology is my most favorite subject.

[@Davidnerfz]

Its one of those documentaries that leaves you satisfied. ❤

[@Footer_87]

This is one of the best stories i have ever heard.

[@bobobaggins2034]

Nobody talkin about the bronze cannons. I wanna see those bad boys. Also must be worth a fortune.

[@spokes28]

I read the book a few years ago. This is a great story.

[@stephanieparker1250]

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]

I'm ok with it

[@philipketchell8369]

This is the stuff I love to see, absolutely brilliant..

[@patrickguillory-yy2gu]

So happy you guys shared your story ❤

[@susancady2581]

What a wonderful story! Thank you.

[@shanna_m]

Favorite episode by far.

[@pengoat9]

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 ...

[@kaptkrunchfpv]

How long did it take Spain to come after them for their cut? Im sure the US didnt waste a second.

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

Everyone filed A claim. Everyone lost. I was Mel's bookkeeper/diver.

[@brianmoran1196]

@@CaptainCraigKWMRZ I was hoping to hear that

[@antsbradley]

@@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]

His own son died looking for the treasure. Did someone from Spain die looking for it? NO

[@albertozepeda1939]

265 died losing it tho​@@heaven-is-real

[@garudastan]

13,05 ear damaging jump in volume, please fix if possible, ty

[@mikebelisle4896]

You would almost think that the crew threw overboard all the weight they could to keep it afloat.

[@robertmaybeth3434]

That's an amazing thought, maybe they did that.

[@dgcaz1]

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. 😮😮😮

[@ApexLight7]

How did you keep other treasure hunters from getting to it?

[@chris.asi_romeo]

Excellent documentary 💯👏

[@jilltagmorris]

Excellent program 😊

[@darrindawson5233]

For all the people asking about a movie there is a movie about this great find. Dreams of Gold : The mel fisher story

[@Benito-lr8mz]

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 .

[@caroleminke6116]

Follow that dream! Without faith, nothing is possible… but with faith, anything is!

[@cptairwolf]

Man with today's video game graphics, you could make an incredible treasure hunting game.

[@johntillotson4254]

Great story

[@davidnorth3411]

Theirs also a force were you dream of being a treasure hunter , find the ship , then government forces get involved and your inprisoned with no crime other than a trivia of allegations to keep your location a secret . This is a case happening in the US currently

[@lisafox2073]

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 🙏 💙

[@pjdava]

Timeline - World History Documentaries, I really enjoyed watching this, so I hit the like button!

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Great video as always.

[@nphipps9406]

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]

They are polished

[@nphipps9406]

@@Midwest10 for sure, a replay from the original find

[@LindaCasey]

Absolutely thrilling

[@patrickguillory-yy2gu]

Wish I had grew up with your dad, I would have followed him anywhere ❤

[@The_Bass_Stunters]

His Son would say other wise.

[@BrianSmith84]

I think of Billy Bob everytime Mel's son is on

[@aloysha.yudkin301]

Very near site

[@bogtrottername7001]

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]

Truly fastinating how they made such treasures and crafts with limited technology. Indeed beautiful artwork and artifacts.

[@pgh1729]

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…”

[@deftone1]

Great doco.

[@jilltagmorris]

My mom went to high school with him in Gary Indiana

[@alwilk2607]

A sad but happy story... yet the dream lives on.

[@pennymink5706]

I love those people and the family

[@joeguzman3558]

The question i have is where did the Aztecs and the rest of America's tribes found so much gold?? Was it in the south America jungles ?? They made lots of jewelry is there more gold in those places

[@guitarsoundsaround]

I wonder too. It would have been much harder without any machinery, or equipment. Everything was made by hand and hauled by animals. It would have been incredible work to do.

[@Howardhandupme]

I remember when they announced on the news about it. And all the legal trouble that followed.

[@gregbrown1956]

Mel was and remains a marvel

[@julianneale6128]

What an incredible story!

[@teriknauer-schafer]

I grew up along the pacific coast so love watching your films. I have interest in unearthed documentary about how the land isn't going to hold back the sea 🌊 but people move. Lately I have been watching desert drifter.

[@dmo7815]

Looking for fishing net flouts made from Coke bottles .

[@danimaquestiau5834]

wow! how fantastic! thank you, what an amazing documentary 🥰

[@warrenlouisiana2277]

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…

[@dallasbishop7929]

That was awesome

[@jason60chev]

Aside from the excitement of finding the wreck and the treasure, was any remembrance paid to the crew of the Atocha? Imean, many of them died.

[@Midwest10]

They’re dead and long gone.

[@brucejohnston3521]

when you love your work it can easily progress to better things

[@carylwright5835]

Pure greed costs the lives of his family members

[@JulieSimmons-zq5cv]

what a GENIUS man

[@Shane.Dennnis]

Hey 👋🏼 it’s your long lost cousin

[@shellshock000]

Hey Cuz! 👍🏻😉😆

[@Universelove777]

I 💙 watching Amazing Documentaries like this 1 !!!! I'm so happy for them & I wish anyone out there searching for anything the best of Luck & Hope in finding it🤞🤞🤞!!! Take care 💙🪙🪙🪙🪙🌊🌬️🛥️🗾🗺️

[@BlackSkyentertainment]

We have a restaurant just two blocks away from the museum in Key West. Been there so many times and know many who dive the reck still….we get a tingle of excitement just thinking about it.

[@TheCowgirlNiamh]

Truly mind boggling how much is laying undiscovered on ocean floors! 😮

[@lastfanstanding999]

Ships during storms drop cannons for weight loss, so it's a debris trail of the disaster before her final resting location.

[@alanaadams7440]

What a wonderful story

[@samuelj2408]

Some things about this story just don't make sense, what happened after the treasure was found? What was the value of it? Do they sell it? So do the family and partners now have 500 M? Alot of these important details seem to be missing..

[@joshmorris5356]

All those details are well documented if you look into this online you will find them. I dk why the show didn’t mention it.

[@davidhuttner9431]

This is a fascinating video!

[@rikji]

Beautifully, skillfully, well done! They will find that 64 pounds of emerals!

[@robertmaybeth3434]

Stories of the treasure hunters, successful ones at least, are endlessly fascinating and the story @26:00, when Mel dribbled the magnificent 6 foot gold chain into someone's hand to give them gold fever, is the perfect anecdote to prove the almost instinctive attraction so many of us have for this magical metal. Personally I'd never have the patience for such things even if I had the money of Bill Gates! The ocean is big, bigger than I can comprehend, and a shipwreck is small - trying to find a needle in a thousand haystacks would give you better odds. But Mel Fisher was destined to find the Atocha, and he did, and it's practically a $450 million miracle.

[@brookewhite3438]

I doubt the younger generation will ever be persistent enough to accomplish anything like this

[@iracordem]

fisher wouldnt even be able to realistically attempt it today.

[@shaunbrennan8825]

Extremely expensive hobby and not worth the legal battles, which this documentary didn't mention.

[@sherriianiro747]

He wouldn't be entitled to any of it today.

[@melaninfactor7857]

The 85 cents I found in the sofa seems much less significant now🤭

[@therantingboy]

This should be a movie

[@TheDarthSoldier]

First rule of treasure hunting. If you find a hoard, don't tell anyone anything ever.

[@h2energynow]

You could buy one of the silver coins years ago. I bought one. A piece of history.

[@davidnorth3411]

43:00 for Dirk! screaming out loud

[@justonsullivan3807]

AMAZING. 🙏

[@Donaldperson7]

When they found the anchor I would have gone in a circle around the anchor and it’s got to be a certain distance from there!

[@robertalpy]

Treasure Hunters are despicable in their behavior. It's right that unlike most countries, the United States lets treasure salvagers keep their find if they pay what is essentially a luxury tax. But the loathsome secrecy and evil deeds that gold inspires in treasure hunters isn't very admirable, even if their dream starts off relatively harmless. One man finds gold and the savagery starts.

[@scottjones1497]

I go arrow head hunting and that is exciting to find something that the last time it was touched it was by a native Indian. Very rewarding

[@rwaterssydney]

the North Wind, sank in the night, drowning all coincidentally days after discovering the wreck...

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

3 crew died. The rest clung to the bottom, it flipped over. They were rescued next morning. I worked for them.

[@robertmaybeth3434]

There's a curse. I think the Atocha must bear a powerful curse. It's like the lord of Harrenhal in Game of Thrones. It is impossible not to notice when Mel Fisher found the mother lode of the Atocha, days later the terrible tragedy occurs and his son and daughter in law drown and die. Because of yet another storm.

[@user-ji9ud7km9i]

Was Kit Nuzum a Diver after that incident Captain?🤿⚓️💎

[@jharri7908]

I was today years old when i learned scuba stands for self contained underwater breathing apparatus 🤦‍♂️😂

[@robertmaybeth3434]

I think I learned watching Sea Hunt at age 5, not to brag but that and Flipper were surprisingly educational

[@alan4yt]

He needed a side scan sonar to show him where the gold and ships were.

[@paulaolson6535]

So love this it's my dream to look and find these ships it's my adventure of a life time

[@roberttelarket4934]

Well didn't the Spanish government demand it back?

[@yiannimil1]

in the florida keys? highly unlikely

[@richierich440007]

Exactly, it doesn’t work that way when you’re the KING of ALL seas 💙🤍❤️🫡

[@roberttelarket4934]

@@yiannimil1: Wrong! The Spanish government has done this in the past!

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

Mel gave the Queen of Spain one of the bronze cannons. That's it.

[@katedaphne4495]

​@@yiannimil1Not how it works. The original owner can lay a claim anywhere. Spain is famous for that.

[@flashkunt2485]

Didn’t the Spain gold come from the americas?

[@robertmaybeth3434]

It absolutely did, gold from Colombia, silver from Mexico and Peru. Sending back all the treasure on one ship was obviously a huge mistake. Why the Spanish didn't spread it over several ships, sailing at different times, defies common sense. I think it means the Spanish governors in the new world were getting messages from Spain telling them the crown was desperate for the gold NOW, sooner the better. And the wreck of the Atocha was the result. Even Columbus had three ships...

[@editek5992]

How it works with this? Ships are considered sovereign countries...