It was an absolute honor to have worked for Mel and Delores! I was barely 18 years old and I worked on the replica ship that they (Treasure Salvors) used as a floating museum, office and gift shop! I stayed working for them for many years, got pad in coins at my request. Did some fill in treasure dives when we were short handed. Sold contracts to investors so Mel could stay in business and pay divers. Sold silver coins with certificates to tourists along with t-shirts and gave museum tours to hundreds of visiting tourists in the belly of the ship. I loved the treasure and had the treasure hunting fever, but more valuable over all for me is that I knew the entire family, baby sat for his grandkids and my children worked for the family as well! I remember bringing out the 75 pound silver bar from the Atocha from the vault in the galleon into the gift shop every day and set it on a heavy stand for visitors to see and touch. I will have to agree with most people that say how lucky I was to have shared that adventure and life changing experience with Mel, Deo and their family! P.S. - Loved walking down to the Chart Room after work every day with Mel, Deo, Charlie, Kim, and the rest, we had such an awesome bond… that bond will last forever! Thank you for posting this, brought all of the fond memories back for me and my family!!
Thanks for sharing these wonderful memories, @KhaleesiStJames! What an interesting time it must have been for you! I hope my video brought back a few fond memories for you....thanks for your wonderful share!
I have a picture of Mel Fishers boat over top of the Atocha from a seaplane. I was in the Coast Guard stationed out in Dry Tortugas on Loggerhead Key from Sept 84 to Sept 85. I was going to Key West from Dry Tortugas and when the pilot flew over the wreck is when he told me Mel Fisher just found the Atocha. He said he was upset with himself because he said he saw Mel Fisher in a bar a few weeks earlier and was looking for investors saying he was close to finding the Atocha but the pilot said that Mel had been looking for a long time and people were hesitant in investing. The pilot said he thought a about investing a few thousand dollars but changed his mind, needless to say, that's why he was so upset.
Mel looked for that "needle in a field of haystacks" for decades. He finally hit paydirt and became famous. Frankly, I wouldn't have invested in the search. It's always been too hard for me to earn several thousand dollars!😀
I've met Mel Fisher to Key-West in 1994 . We come into the bar to take a way food. À man coming ... i saw à Big man with a large smile i Said to me he look like John Wayne without long hair ans he come behind us to talk des minutes after the bardender say do You Know with who You talk ? I said no... he tell me he is Mel Fisher ! My Memory it was a Nice man he talk about Paris that he visit with his wife. We took a picture with my French friends ans its Big émeraude et sa grande chaîne en or. Never Forget this moment ! I love his détermination !
You're very welcome, jameshabovick8949! My entire VHS & DVD Video Series, KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel and my 290-page book, "Florida Keys Dive Odyssey - Diary of a Reef Line" were labors of my love for America's Barrier Reef! I hope I made it easier for thousands of people who follow me to find specific wrecks and reefs, thereby enhancing their diving adventures!😀
I worked in Key West many times for weeks at a time dove the reefs and never knew of the Fishers. in 1994 through -2008 ate at my favorite place The Rusty Anchor. I do wish I had went to there shop. I built and re built the 3 AM towers just before the main Island of Key West on the left
Ahoy, kevincresswell5272! If you've dived Key West reefs, then you're sure to enjoy my TH-cam Channel "KeysDiveGuide" Volume 15, 16 and 17! Volume 15 takes you out from Geiger Key Marina to PELICAN SHOAL LIGHT TOWER RUINS, PELICAN SHOAL, SPECULATOR SHOAL, EASTERN SAMBO, MIDDLE SAMBO AND WESTERN SAMBO. Volume 16 begins at the STOCK ISLAND CHANNEL MARKER, then moves to JOE'S TUGBOAT, the CAYMAN SALVAGE MASTER, SAND KEY (with a cool night dive) and finishes up with one of my favorite dives, WESTERN DRY ROCKS (about 11 miles seaward from Key West). Volume 17 takes you into the LAKES PASSAGE, with dives on the ARCHER KEY SPONGE GARDENS, a mangrove dive in MAN KEY, the MAN KEY WRECK, the BOCA GRANDE WRECKS, DE 66 AMESBURY, the LOOKDOWN WRECK in Boca Grande Channel, the MARQUESAS EAGLE BARGE, the MARQUESAS TARGET WRECK and the MARQUESAS IRON WRECK. My "KeysDiveGuide" TH-cam Channel includes over 180 wrecks and reefs from Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas in 36 action packed adventures. Check them all out!
Mr. Ferguson as many others have said you did an awesome job with this story! Hate Mel is gone but his memory lives on forever. I love history and the like... he seemed like such a humble person..
Hello Lance. Mel was one of my heroes. Check out Volume 21 of the KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel and meet the father of modern Treasure salvage, Art McKee through classic film clips from the 1940s 50s and 60s. Art's daughter Karen and I dive two shipwrecks from the 1733 Fleet in Volume 23! Meet Salvage Master Stefan Sykora in Volume 26 and dive two more shipwrecks of the 1733 Fleet! Meet Treasure Salvor Captain Finley Ricard in Volume 27 and discuss a few "Ghost" ships of the 1733 Fleet! Go on an actual salvage dive on the SAN JOSE of the 1733 Fleet with Captain Carl Frederics in Volume 30! Scuba divers and Treasure Salvors have always been my role models and friends!
Ahoy, @megalou6567 (Christine Black)! Check out Volume 30 of my KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel featuring the salvage of the San Jose of the 1733 Fleet! You will learn the names of the wooden timbers that made up the frames of these impressive ships and much, much more!
Well done Sir Don. I spent a lot of time in Florida , and especially the Florida Keys in the 1980's and 1990's, delivering yachts North and South. The last time I saw Mel we were having a drink at Schooner Bar . Unfortunately he passed away not too long after that. I wish I had known he was not long for this world. I would have liked to have gotten a picture taken with him. Kind of a tourist thing to do, but he was a legend I admired, and just a really cool guy. Excellent video too Don. Capt. Keith Lane
Yes, johnmunozvo665! The interview with Mel and the footage at his museum was shot on December 23rd, 1995 and I edited the show in 2010-11, so I've aged 15 years! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!😀
Thanks for your support, johnnydallas9212! View my entire 37-video TH-cam Channel, KeysDiveGuide for exciting adventures on over 180 shipwrecks and reefs from Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas! Be sure to subscribe and like the videos!
Mr Ferguson, wonderful video and just fascinating. I live in Key West and now my girlfriend works for MelFishers. In fact she is on the front page of the Key West Citizen paper today displaying an emerald. Thank you for this treasure of a video. Sincerely, Brian Thayer
I've got a Grade A artifact bought directly from Josh Fisher in the Keys. I'm really glad you uploaded this. Can't wait to get home and watch it. Thanks!
Hi, Dillion! My videos were produced to entertain and inform those interested in Scuba Diving, Sea Creatures, Navigation and Shipwrecks. Be sure to check out Volume 24, "Spanish Colonial Treasure Coins" as well. Enjoy!
Thank You, @rhapsody5876! I enjoyed conducting this interview. Mel taught me a lot that summer! Be sure to check out the rest of my "Galleon Hunter" series of videos on my TH-cam Channel "Don Ferguson Productions/Keys Dive Guide", Volumes 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. My series specializes in the history and precise locations of the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet shipwrecks except for Mel's video (Volume 25 - 1622 Fleet) and Marathon's Mystery Galleon (Volume 28 - probably a mid-1600s shipwreck).
One correction- SCUBA was actually co-developed by my grandfather, ocean exploration pioneer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and his engineer friend Emile Gagnan of Air Liquide in 1943, in Sanary/Toulon France...
Thank you for the correction Fabian Cousteau. I was aware that your Grandfather developed SCUBA. I should have included him in the narration. My regards and apologies to you and the rest of your family!!
@@FabienCousteauI am honored that you find my KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel interesting Fabien Cousteau. Your Grandfather has always been an inspiration to me! I've put together a 36-episode series featuring over 180 wrecks and reefs covering the nearly 200-mile-long Florida Keys reef line. My directions and GPS coordinates help divers locate these sites from their own boat. I've worked very hard to promote the sport of Scuba Diving! I hope you enjoy my other shows as well. Lets stay in touch.
@FabienCousteau What an honor to find you here on TH-cam, and your grandfather was a man that brought mankind into the inner space of the seas! Not only with the inventions, but with his heartfelt enthusiasm to discover and preserve the oceans and many other things during his lifetime! “Calypso” I believe was his vessel and an American singer wrote and sang about your grandfather and the grand purpose of the Calypso! I love that song, it was written and sung by John Denver, the music video is on TH-cam! The song is a tribute to all that your grandfather stood for and his vessel! God’s blessings for the memories of your grandfather and to you and your family!!!
Mel Fisher was a GREAT guy. He opened his Museum in KW to me for the entire summer of 1995, showing me all of the artifacts and the restoration process. I spent many hours listening to his fascinating stories. I had my 30th birthday party at Capt. Tony's Saloon in early January, 1984. It was so cold we had a fire in the fireplace! Captain Tony was there and the party was long and loud raging into the afterhours when the bar had closed. The next day I woke up about 5:00 PM and went up to Big Pine Key and partied with Capt. Finley Ricard and his wife Patty for the next week! That was the time of my life when I could party for days and days!😆🤪Unfortunately, Capt. Mel, Capt. Tony and Capt. Finley are no longer with us, but I'm still friends with Patty!
Art McKee was the father of Florida Keys 1733 Fleet shipwreck salvage,@@jameshabovick8949! He began salvaging LA CAPITANA in 1938! I guess you've seen my video about Art McKee? It's Volume 21 of my KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel!
I appreciate the positive feedback bluebomb49. I now have 34 videos for Florida Keys Diving enthusiasts with GPS coordinates to over 180 wrecks and reefs. Launch sites, fish & coral ID and shipwreck history are included as well. Very cool car by the way. Olds or Chevy '49?
I appreciate your work! As a proud owner of not one but TWO silver 8 reale cogs encased in the gold and emeralds pendants of Mel Fisher's design and (my favorite) a gold 2 escudo done in the same Mel Fisher design pendant, they are my FAVORITE pieces of jewelry. If i could find a way to wear the authenticity paperwork too i would! I'm so glad when someone recognizes they are Atocha pieces! I am fascinated with this period in time and all things related to coastal Florida tradings of old.
Thanks Billy Edwards! Subscribe and enjoy 35 more shows on the KeysDive Guide TH-cam Channel! Be sure to like & follow us us on our Keys Dive Guide FB Page! I'm glad you enjoyed the show!
Mel -you and your crew deserve such a reward for the sacrifices you all made. Since my Mom was once"Miss Redondo Beach" and I was born in 1954.and later ...with Jacques Cousteu as my childhood hero (I loved snorkelling and diving). I was amazed at how much of a kindred spirit I have in common with you all. But I realized that the temporary world we live in is NOT as important as our place in the Kingdom of God to come and became a missionary! We will all see our loved ones again and you will MEET your family and even those who perished on the Atocha as well! God does not let our lives be wasted. He has a wonderful plan for us all and will work out the problems we now face. We will meet our loved ones again and we will be alive in Christ to live on forever with Him and enjoy for eternity the TRUE treasure...the lives and souls of each one of God's human creations who will go on to live FOREVER in the establishment of life throughout this great universe which God has created for us! KEEP YOUR FAITH BROTHER! This is only the beginning of our eternal life to come! God bless! Thanks for your example of continuing on despite your loses. It will all work out in God's tomorrow!
What does your comment have to do with Mel or shipwrecks, more importantly Spanish Colonial Shipwrecks yoyobokushi? There are plenty of TH-cam videos and FB Pages where you can draw attention to yourself by posting your religious beliefs. I too have strong beliefs, but this is not the place to post them.
While the loss of the Atocha were a severe blow to the economy of Spain, it IS a miracle that when the galleon sank, not every last person on the ship went with it.
A miracle indeed, SparkplugsK-bn9ou! Mel's 1622 Spanish Treasure Fleet and the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet that sank in the upper Keys have some terrifying stories on record of entire ships sinking beneath the waves in deep, deep water, miles from the relatively shallow reefline! Many of these ships were old and riddled with terredo (a wood boring bi-valve that destroyed the framework of the wooden vessels). Some of these less than seaworthy vessels disintegrated on their way toward shore, bashing and smashing their hulls with the rise and fall of the ocean in the furious tempest!
Cool, bentleyrainwater7734! What did the "Citizen" of the Conch Republic ceremony entail? He Knighted me as a "Knight" of the Conch republic. Are you sure he didn't Knight you? 😀
@@KeysDiveGuide Thanks for replying anyway Don. You just sound a lot like him. I am in the marine diamond game and also use a form of "mailbox" excavation to get through overburden.
i was thinking oh gosh, they did not have refrigerators! yet were very advanced with how they utilized navigation. the cannons are really something. the smaller auxilliary shotgun style cannons are likely where they put the dishes and knifes and forks to blast at possible intruders and seagulls during the boredom of months at sea and smelly disgusting unwashed personell without a nintendo.
I'm glad you enjoyed the show, dangerdavefreestyle! Yes, I read where they would put nails in the smaller railing guns to repel intruders! When they left Havana for the voyage back to Cadiz, Spain, the ships had cattle, goats, pigs and chicken on board to slaughter as needed. Fresh water would go rancid before they reached Spain, so wine was added to the drinking water to lengthen the shelf life. Fruits and vegetables have a short life in the heat before they spoil and were consumed quickly into the voyage. When the vegetables were all consumed, passengers and crew sucked limes, lemons or oranges to prevent scurvy. When the livestock was gone, they had coco leaves to chew to allay their hunger until they reached Spain. Sometimes there were periods of no wind making the cross-Atlantic trip even longer! Traveling from the West Indies to Spain was not for the weak and infirm!
Treasure hunter "Mel Fisher"'s habit of saying "Today is the Day" (today is the day when treasure can be found)! I likened the encounter with the lover to the hint, The American proverb "Today Is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life" (Today is the first day of the rest of your life!) The story of being encouraged by her who fell ill with. th-cam.com/video/0nKEvFqMtAg/w-d-xo.html
Mel was a helluva guy, use-hb5ho8scv! I'm glad you liked the show enough to comment! Check out all the 37 episodes of my "KeysDiveGuide" video series! Be sure to like and follow!
what kind of security is their the building looks like anyone could just break in and steal the gold.. or hold up the people easily .. a lot of money their.. I would be afraid to work their as no one thinks anything about just blasting in and stealing
My advice to any would-be thieves, I wouldn't try it! 24-hour armed security inside the museum and hidden outside the museum guarding all entrances. They'll be happy to send any "invaders" to a permanent vacation in the Key West Cemetery. Thieves would be better off attacking Fort Knox in Kentucky.
You are the second person out of 65,000 views that complained about the sound level of the background music. I am NOT going to re-edit the video. Sorry you don't dig the music. The facts presented in the video came from several meetings with Mel in 1995.
I'm watching this video the history fantastic the producer should lower the back ground music not to interfere with the dialogue the speaker is important to hear, the music should be subliminal
Hello Steve! You're the first person that mentioned this about the music volume in relation to the narration volume. I'm sorry you couldn't understand some of the dialogue.
i found the show great but had hard time following your dialogue with the music interfering, many producer do this and I always believed music should be subliminal and not interfere , I meet Mel and know Duncan , I.m friends with Fizz and I also knew Henry Taylor and Duke Long and have a copy of his Conception Lito plus some of his other signed art. I owner and operated the dive boat Wahoo out of Long Island New York, Thank for the program I passed on the link @@KeysDiveGuide
I am just ever so grateful to have this film to watch, I truly never even noticed that anything was an issue. Thanks to this video, history has been preserved! Thank you @KeysDiverGuide !! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Yes Sir, christinac8227! My email is diverdonferguson@gmail.com . Thanks for your interest. I have an extensive video library and have sold cuts to producers for years!
19:23 COCAINE? No.....In 1859, Albert Niemann of the University of Göttingen became the first person to isolate the chief alkaloid of coca, which he named "cocaine".[32]
They chewed the coca leaves and ingested a dried -up powder, captaintastebuds323. I know natives stomped on the leaves in a liquid slurry of lime juice. Then the messy liquid was cured in the sunshine and reduced into a powder. Those trans-Atlantic trips were brutal! Sometimes enduring many windless days. The powder was used by the wealthy and the less expensive leaves were usually chewed by the lower classes and some of the crew. The native American Incas were fond of saying, "the leaves of the plant will sustain our people through cold and hunger, while the white powder will destroy the white man who stole our gold and enslaved our people". If you were alive in the 1970s, 80s & 90s, you'll remember Cocaine destroyed thousands of lives! The curse of the Incas!
Im bak from the dead and i want all my treasure plus intrest.. This entire situation was a cover up.. Frida Kahlo.. This was a heist.. Ill prove it ...
It was an absolute honor to have worked for Mel and Delores!
I was barely 18 years old and I worked on the replica ship that they (Treasure Salvors) used as a floating museum, office and gift shop! I stayed working for them for many years, got pad in coins at my request. Did some fill in treasure dives when we were short handed. Sold contracts to investors so Mel could stay in business and pay divers. Sold silver coins with certificates to tourists along with t-shirts and gave museum tours to hundreds of visiting tourists in the belly of the ship.
I loved the treasure and had the treasure hunting fever, but more valuable over all for me is that I knew the entire family, baby sat for his grandkids and my children worked for the family as well!
I remember bringing out the 75 pound silver bar from the Atocha from the vault in the galleon into the gift shop every day and set it on a heavy stand for visitors to see and touch.
I will have to agree with most people that say how lucky I was to have shared that adventure and life changing experience with Mel, Deo and their family!
P.S. - Loved walking down to the Chart Room after work every day with Mel, Deo, Charlie, Kim, and the rest, we had such an awesome bond… that bond will last forever!
Thank you for posting this, brought all of the fond memories back for me and my family!!
Thanks for sharing these wonderful memories, @KhaleesiStJames! What an interesting time it must have been for you! I hope my video brought back a few fond memories for you....thanks for your wonderful share!
Long live the king and his relentless spirit
He was one of a kind and a great guy, nomore7415! I hope you enjoyed the show!
I have a picture of Mel Fishers boat over top of the Atocha from a seaplane. I was in the Coast Guard stationed out in Dry Tortugas on Loggerhead Key from Sept 84 to Sept 85. I was going to Key West from Dry Tortugas and when the pilot flew over the wreck is when he told me Mel Fisher just found the Atocha. He said he was upset with himself because he said he saw Mel Fisher in a bar a few weeks earlier and was looking for investors saying he was close to finding the Atocha but the pilot said that Mel had been looking for a long time and people were hesitant in investing. The pilot said he thought a about investing a few thousand dollars but changed his mind, needless to say, that's why he was so upset.
Mel looked for that "needle in a field of haystacks" for decades. He finally hit paydirt and became famous. Frankly, I wouldn't have invested in the search. It's always been too hard for me to earn several thousand dollars!😀
I've met Mel Fisher to Key-West in 1994 . We
come into the bar to take a way food. À man
coming ... i saw à Big man with a large smile i
Said to me he look like John Wayne without
long hair ans he come behind us to talk des
minutes after the bardender say do You Know
with who You talk ? I said no... he tell me he is
Mel Fisher ! My Memory it was a Nice man he
talk about Paris that he visit with his wife.
We took a picture with my French friends ans
its Big émeraude et sa grande chaîne en or.
Never Forget this moment !
I love his détermination !
Thanks for your interesting comment, albanerrobino396! Mel was a GREAT guy and a mesmerizing story teller!
These videos are so cool.
I'm glad you are enjoying the KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel, @eosin785! Please subscribe to my channel and thanks for the compliment!
Thank you for all your videos,
You're very welcome, jameshabovick8949! My entire VHS & DVD Video Series, KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel and my 290-page book, "Florida Keys Dive Odyssey - Diary of a Reef Line" were labors of my love for America's Barrier Reef! I hope I made it easier for thousands of people who follow me to find specific wrecks and reefs, thereby enhancing their diving adventures!😀
What a great video,of mel all the sacrifice trying to follow his dream. Thank you mel.and
TODAY IS THE DAY.
I'm glad you enjoyed the show, @adelfomarrero8723!
I worked in Key West many times for weeks at a time dove the reefs and never knew of the Fishers. in 1994 through -2008 ate at my favorite place The Rusty Anchor. I do wish I had went to there shop. I built and re built the 3 AM towers just before the main Island of Key West on the left
Ahoy, kevincresswell5272! If you've dived Key West reefs, then you're sure to enjoy my TH-cam Channel "KeysDiveGuide" Volume 15, 16 and 17! Volume 15 takes you out from Geiger Key Marina to PELICAN SHOAL LIGHT TOWER RUINS, PELICAN SHOAL, SPECULATOR SHOAL, EASTERN SAMBO, MIDDLE SAMBO AND WESTERN SAMBO. Volume 16 begins at the STOCK ISLAND CHANNEL MARKER, then moves to JOE'S TUGBOAT, the CAYMAN SALVAGE MASTER, SAND KEY (with a cool night dive) and finishes up with one of my favorite dives, WESTERN DRY ROCKS (about 11 miles seaward from Key West). Volume 17 takes you into the LAKES PASSAGE, with dives on the ARCHER KEY SPONGE GARDENS, a mangrove dive in MAN KEY, the MAN KEY WRECK, the BOCA GRANDE WRECKS, DE 66 AMESBURY, the LOOKDOWN WRECK in Boca Grande Channel, the MARQUESAS EAGLE BARGE, the MARQUESAS TARGET WRECK and the MARQUESAS IRON WRECK. My "KeysDiveGuide" TH-cam Channel includes over 180 wrecks and reefs from Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas in 36 action packed adventures. Check them all out!
Mr. Ferguson as many others have said you did an awesome job with this story! Hate Mel is gone but his memory lives on forever. I love history and the like... he seemed like such a humble person..
Hello Lance. Mel was one of my heroes. Check out Volume 21 of the KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel and meet the father of modern Treasure salvage, Art McKee through classic film clips from the 1940s 50s and 60s. Art's daughter Karen and I dive two shipwrecks from the 1733 Fleet in Volume 23! Meet Salvage Master Stefan Sykora in Volume 26 and dive two more shipwrecks of the 1733 Fleet! Meet Treasure Salvor Captain Finley Ricard in Volume 27 and discuss a few "Ghost" ships of the 1733 Fleet! Go on an actual salvage dive on the SAN JOSE of the 1733 Fleet with Captain Carl Frederics in Volume 30! Scuba divers and Treasure Salvors have always been my role models and friends!
I am looking for a documentary were you can see them live as they find it! it is sooooo exciting! I saw it on tv and cant find it on youtube.
Hi I just watched it … search…. National Geographic video Atocha quest for treasure. I just got done watching it
Ahoy, @megalou6567 (Christine Black)! Check out Volume 30 of my KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel featuring the salvage of the San Jose of the 1733 Fleet! You will learn the names of the wooden timbers that made up the frames of these impressive ships and much, much more!
Well done Sir Don.
I spent a lot of time in Florida , and especially the Florida Keys in the 1980's and 1990's, delivering yachts North and South.
The last time I saw Mel we were having a drink at Schooner Bar .
Unfortunately he passed away not too long after that.
I wish I had known he was not long for this world.
I would have liked to have gotten a picture taken with him.
Kind of a tourist thing to do, but he was a legend I admired, and just a really cool guy.
Excellent video too Don.
Capt. Keith Lane
Thanks for your kind words, Capt. Keith!
The guy got older after seeing the gold! Just kiddinng..awesome video!
Yes, johnmunozvo665! The interview with Mel and the footage at his museum was shot on December 23rd, 1995 and I edited the show in 2010-11, so I've aged 15 years! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!😀
So interesting, thanks for making this production, you were definitely in the right place at the right time to do that interview with Mel!
Thanks for your support, Shane!
Fantastic !!
Thanks for your support, johnnydallas9212! View my entire 37-video TH-cam Channel, KeysDiveGuide for exciting adventures on over 180 shipwrecks and reefs from Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas! Be sure to subscribe and like the videos!
Mr Ferguson, wonderful video and just fascinating. I live in Key West and now my girlfriend works for MelFishers. In fact she is on the front page of the Key West Citizen paper today displaying an emerald. Thank you for this treasure of a video.
Sincerely,
Brian Thayer
Glad you enjoyed the show Brian.....It was a labor of love!
Thanks so much for putting these up. Helps me keep dreaming
I'm glad you enjoy my work, Carson! KeysDiveGuide has 36 episodes on TH-cam!
I wish I could see this treasure in person. Unfathomably mesmirizing
The next time you're in Key West check it out, Tyler! It is much more amazing in person!
@@KeysDiveGuide I will definitely. Thank You! Looking forward to it one day
I've got a Grade A artifact bought directly from Josh Fisher in the Keys. I'm really glad you uploaded this. Can't wait to get home and watch it. Thanks!
Hi, Dillion! My videos were produced to entertain and inform those interested in Scuba Diving, Sea Creatures, Navigation and Shipwrecks. Be sure to check out Volume 24, "Spanish Colonial Treasure Coins" as well. Enjoy!
One of my FB friends mentioned Mel Fisher so I looked him up and found this. Good video; thank you.
Thanks Justina! I'm glad you enjoyed the show....be sure to check out the Mel Fisher Museum the next time you're in Key West!
Most likely, I'll never go down to Key West. Don't like Florida weather.
Great production! Thank you!!
Glad you enjoyed the show, DiggingNorway!
Great video !
Thank You, @rhapsody5876! I enjoyed conducting this interview. Mel taught me a lot that summer! Be sure to check out the rest of my "Galleon Hunter" series of videos on my TH-cam Channel "Don Ferguson Productions/Keys Dive Guide", Volumes 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. My series specializes in the history and precise locations of the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet shipwrecks except for Mel's video (Volume 25 - 1622 Fleet) and Marathon's Mystery Galleon (Volume 28 - probably a mid-1600s shipwreck).
Awesome , yes, I'll check out the videos . Thanks!@@KeysDiveGuide
I really enjoyed this
That's why I put together the KeysDiveGuide Channel on TH-cam Atomic Punk.....thx 4 ur support!
One correction- SCUBA was actually co-developed by my grandfather, ocean exploration pioneer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and his engineer friend Emile Gagnan of Air Liquide in 1943, in Sanary/Toulon France...
Thank you for the correction Fabian Cousteau. I was aware that your Grandfather developed SCUBA. I should have included him in the narration. My regards and apologies to you and the rest of your family!!
@@KeysDiveGuide No apologies necessary. Please keep sharing these good stories!
@@FabienCousteauI am honored that you find my KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel interesting Fabien Cousteau. Your Grandfather has always been an inspiration to me! I've put together a 36-episode series featuring over 180 wrecks and reefs covering the nearly 200-mile-long Florida Keys reef line. My directions and GPS coordinates help divers locate these sites from their own boat. I've worked very hard to promote the sport of Scuba Diving! I hope you enjoy my other shows as well. Lets stay in touch.
@FabienCousteau
What an honor to find you here on TH-cam, and your grandfather was a man that brought mankind into the inner space of the seas! Not only with the inventions, but with his heartfelt enthusiasm to discover and preserve the oceans and many other things during his lifetime!
“Calypso” I believe was his vessel and an American singer wrote and sang about your grandfather and the grand purpose of the Calypso!
I love that song, it was written and sung by John Denver, the music video is on TH-cam!
The song is a tribute to all that your grandfather stood for and his vessel!
God’s blessings for the memories of your grandfather and to you and your family!!!
th-cam.com/video/-ZonmQZG0GQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=RLyh4a9fi5dkIm93
A lot of that stuff Mel was showing you. I never saw in either one of the two museums. Very cool stuff. Those damn cigarettes though.
What a great man, kind to all people, meet him and capt tony one day, today is the day
Mel Fisher was a GREAT guy. He opened his Museum in KW to me for the entire summer of 1995, showing me all of the artifacts and the restoration process. I spent many hours listening to his fascinating stories. I had my 30th birthday party at Capt. Tony's Saloon in early January, 1984. It was so cold we had a fire in the fireplace! Captain Tony was there and the party was long and loud raging into the afterhours when the bar had closed. The next day I woke up about 5:00 PM and went up to Big Pine Key and partied with Capt. Finley Ricard and his wife Patty for the next week! That was the time of my life when I could party for days and days!😆🤪Unfortunately, Capt. Mel, Capt. Tony and Capt. Finley are no longer with us, but I'm still friends with Patty!
Great bunch of people, lived life to the fullest
Silver bar McGee another great man, shared his stories with all
Art McKee was the father of Florida Keys 1733 Fleet shipwreck salvage,@@jameshabovick8949! He began salvaging LA CAPITANA in 1938! I guess you've seen my video about Art McKee? It's Volume 21 of my KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel!
Absolutely,@@jameshabovick8949! They definitely followed their dreams and made it happen!
Awesome!
Thanks Brian.....glad you liked the show!
Don thank you
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, Doug!
Amazing , thanks for making this video
I appreciate the positive feedback bluebomb49. I now have 34 videos for Florida Keys Diving enthusiasts with GPS coordinates to over 180 wrecks and reefs. Launch sites, fish & coral ID and shipwreck history are included as well. Very cool car by the way. Olds or Chevy '49?
I appreciate your work! As a proud owner of not one but TWO silver 8 reale cogs encased in the gold and emeralds pendants of Mel Fisher's design and (my favorite) a gold 2 escudo done in the same Mel Fisher design pendant, they are my FAVORITE pieces of jewelry. If i could find a way to wear the authenticity paperwork too i would! I'm so glad when someone recognizes they are Atocha pieces!
I am fascinated with this period in time and all things related to coastal Florida tradings of old.
good watch
Thanks _tHE Enabler? I'm glad you enjoyed the show! There's a lot of shipwrecks on the "KeysDiveGuide" TH-cam Channel! Check 'em out!
Thanks _tHE Enabler? Mel Fisher was quite a guy!
GREAT PRODUCTION DON
Thanks philneville3569! Glad you enjoyed the show!
how can anyone put a thumbs down really?mel gives ya alot of knowledge here
I'm glad you enjoyed the show Michael! Check out the other videos in my Galleon Hunter Series of the KeysDiveGuide TH-cam Channel!
@@KeysDiveGuide yeah really great channel you have)
Thanks Michael! Stay tuned for more shows!
Thanks Michael.....glad you dig the shows!
Thank you..
You're welcome, masterodcents.8175! View my entire 37-video TH-cam Channel, KeysDiveGuide for exciting adventures on over 180 shipwrecks and reefs from Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas! You'll get accurate directions to the dive sites with GPS Coordinates to the dive sites, fish and coral ID, Telly Award© winning aerial, topside and underwater footage, not to mention Keys shipwreck and Florida Keys history! Be sure to subscribe and like the videos!
That was cool!
Thanks Billy Edwards! Subscribe and enjoy 35 more shows on the KeysDive Guide TH-cam Channel! Be sure to like & follow us us on our Keys Dive Guide FB Page! I'm glad you enjoyed the show!
❤❤❤
Glad you enjoyed the show, kabjab!😀
Mel -you and your crew deserve such a reward for the sacrifices you all made. Since my Mom was once"Miss Redondo Beach" and I was born in 1954.and later ...with Jacques Cousteu as my childhood hero (I loved snorkelling and diving). I was amazed at how much of a kindred spirit I have in common with you all. But I realized that the temporary world we live in is NOT as important as our place in the Kingdom of God to come and became a missionary! We will all see our loved ones again and you will MEET your family and even those who perished on the Atocha as well! God does not let our lives be wasted. He has a wonderful plan for us all and will work out the problems we now face. We will meet our loved ones again and we will be alive in Christ to live on forever with Him and enjoy for eternity the TRUE treasure...the lives and souls of each one of God's human creations who will go on to live FOREVER in the establishment of life throughout this great universe which God has created for us! KEEP YOUR FAITH BROTHER! This is only the beginning of our eternal life to come! God bless! Thanks for your example of continuing on despite your loses. It will all work out in God's tomorrow!
What does your comment have to do with Mel or shipwrecks, more importantly Spanish Colonial Shipwrecks yoyobokushi? There are plenty of TH-cam videos and FB Pages where you can draw attention to yourself by posting your religious beliefs. I too have strong beliefs, but this is not the place to post them.
my dad met him in the 60s in dallas
i hope you enjoyed the video! mel was an incredible person, a true pioneer of sport and salvage diving!
While the loss of the Atocha were a severe blow to the economy of Spain, it IS a miracle that when the galleon sank, not every last person on the ship went with it.
A miracle indeed, SparkplugsK-bn9ou! Mel's 1622 Spanish Treasure Fleet and the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet that sank in the upper Keys have some terrifying stories on record of entire ships sinking beneath the waves in deep, deep water, miles from the relatively shallow reefline! Many of these ships were old and riddled with terredo (a wood boring bi-valve that destroyed the framework of the wooden vessels). Some of these less than seaworthy vessels disintegrated on their way toward shore, bashing and smashing their hulls with the rise and fall of the ocean in the furious tempest!
And I know he saying it in heaven. let's hear it for my crew.
Mel also made me a citizen of the Conch Republic the summer of 98.
Cool, bentleyrainwater7734! What did the "Citizen" of the Conch Republic ceremony entail? He Knighted me as a "Knight" of the Conch republic. Are you sure he didn't Knight you? 😀
amazing
Thanks, HRMcKee! Mel was a really cool guy!
How much depth did these ships need to be in?
Usually an 18 to 20' draft, miamiwax5504.
🙌🏻👍✨
Thanks Alina!
Mel fisher
Mel fisher's survivors the Atocha
Mel Fisher was quite a guy, Richie!
Like the one lady said .... Mel fisher is the real mcoy!
He was a fascinating, determined guy, user-ri9hb6th1w! The world will never see another like him again!
Don, are you related to Colin Ferguson?
No, Gavin. I don't know him.
@@KeysDiveGuide Thanks for replying anyway Don. You just sound a lot like him. I am in the marine diamond game and also use a form of "mailbox" excavation to get through overburden.
Just like I head to search for parts to bring this 1941 Saratoga back to life
Awesome wheels, man!
i was thinking oh gosh, they did not have refrigerators! yet were very advanced with how they utilized navigation. the cannons are really something. the smaller auxilliary shotgun style cannons are likely where they put the dishes and knifes and forks to blast at possible intruders and seagulls during the boredom of months at sea and smelly disgusting unwashed personell without a nintendo.
I'm glad you enjoyed the show, dangerdavefreestyle! Yes, I read where they would put nails in the smaller railing guns to repel intruders! When they left Havana for the voyage back to Cadiz, Spain, the ships had cattle, goats, pigs and chicken on board to slaughter as needed. Fresh water would go rancid before they reached Spain, so wine was added to the drinking water to lengthen the shelf life. Fruits and vegetables have a short life in the heat before they spoil and were consumed quickly into the voyage. When the vegetables were all consumed, passengers and crew sucked limes, lemons or oranges to prevent scurvy. When the livestock was gone, they had coco leaves to chew to allay their hunger until they reached Spain. Sometimes there were periods of no wind making the cross-Atlantic trip even longer! Traveling from the West Indies to Spain was not for the weak and infirm!
Treasure hunter "Mel Fisher"'s habit of saying "Today is the Day" (today is the day when treasure can be found)! I likened the encounter with the lover to the hint,
The American proverb "Today Is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life" (Today is the first day of the rest of your life!) The story of being encouraged by her who fell ill with.
th-cam.com/video/0nKEvFqMtAg/w-d-xo.html
Mel was a helluva guy, use-hb5ho8scv! I'm glad you liked the show enough to comment! Check out all the 37 episodes of my "KeysDiveGuide" video series! Be sure to like and follow!
Mel burnt out from either the excessive exposure to the sunshine or the endless nights of pure cocaine binges
Old mel isn't scared of second hand smoke. He says if you die from my smoking sue me! Sorry we lost him.
He was hilarious, gregfuzi! Everybody who knew Mel misses him. One of a kind guy!
OK👍
I'm glad you enjoyed the show, @zdnekpicha7956.
what kind of security is their the building looks like anyone could just break in and steal the gold.. or hold up the people easily .. a lot of money their.. I would be afraid to work their as no one thinks anything about just blasting in and stealing
My advice to any would-be thieves, I wouldn't try it! 24-hour armed security inside the museum and hidden outside the museum guarding all entrances. They'll be happy to send any "invaders" to a permanent vacation in the Key West Cemetery. Thieves would be better off attacking Fort Knox in Kentucky.
Great Video! Shame about the background music! It's not needed!
You are the second person out of 65,000 views that complained about the sound level of the background music. I am NOT going to re-edit the video. Sorry you don't dig the music. The facts presented in the video came from several meetings with Mel in 1995.
I'm watching this video the history fantastic the producer should lower the back ground music not to interfere with the dialogue the speaker is important to hear, the music should be subliminal
Hello Steve! You're the first person that mentioned this about the music volume in relation to the narration volume. I'm sorry you couldn't understand some of the dialogue.
i found the show great but had hard time following your dialogue with the music interfering, many producer do this and I always believed music should be subliminal and not interfere , I meet Mel and know Duncan , I.m friends with Fizz and I also knew Henry Taylor and Duke Long and have a copy of his Conception Lito plus some of his other signed art. I owner and operated the dive boat Wahoo out of Long Island New York, Thank for the program I passed on the link
@@KeysDiveGuide
Ahoy Steve! You're the first person that ever told me that. I'm sorry you had trouble understanding the narration. My programs all have subtitles.
I am just ever so grateful to have this film to watch, I truly never even noticed that anything was an issue.
Thanks to this video, history has been preserved!
Thank you @KeysDiverGuide !! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Thanks for the compliment,@@KhaleesiStJames!
Don- can I contact you via email? I'm interested in obtaining some Mel Fisher video from this clip. Thanks!
Yes Sir, christinac8227! My email is diverdonferguson@gmail.com . Thanks for your interest. I have an extensive video library and have sold cuts to producers for years!
@@KeysDiveGuideHey I’ve sent you an email if you can check it out I would appreciate! Thanks for this awesome upload!
19:23 COCAINE? No.....In 1859, Albert Niemann of the University of Göttingen became the first person to isolate the chief alkaloid of coca, which he named "cocaine".[32]
You mean the first white guy to write it down and claim credit
First had raw coca leaves from the fields of Columbia.
@@dare369 no. extracting the alkaloids was not possible back then. looks like your "white guy" did pretty well.
They chewed the coca leaves and ingested a dried -up powder, captaintastebuds323. I know natives stomped on the leaves in a liquid slurry of lime juice. Then the messy liquid was cured in the sunshine and reduced into a powder. Those trans-Atlantic trips were brutal! Sometimes enduring many windless days. The powder was used by the wealthy and the less expensive leaves were usually chewed by the lower classes and some of the crew. The native American Incas were fond of saying, "the leaves of the plant will sustain our people through cold and hunger, while the white powder will destroy the white man who stole our gold and enslaved our people". If you were alive in the 1970s, 80s & 90s, you'll remember Cocaine destroyed thousands of lives! The curse of the Incas!
It's not Cacao Leaves. It's Coca!!!!!!
A mispronunciation, thegreatitudecoach9709. Was there anything you liked about the video?😆
Im bak from the dead and i want all my treasure plus intrest.. This entire situation was a cover up.. Frida Kahlo.. This was a heist.. Ill prove it ...