Mel Fisher's Treasure Co. on Sanibel Island, Florida
June 30, 2001 at 19:34:40
Just finished a week on Sanibel Island off the Florida west coast at Ft. Myers. Hunted the beaches several times but only found some modern coins and a youth ring. Think the beaches are heavily worked there.
Did go tour a newly opened museum on Sanibel run by Mel Fisher's Treasure Co. that had artifacts from the 1622 shipwreck, Nuestra Senora de Atocha, that Mel found off the Florida Keys in 1985. Admission at Sanibel is $5. There are more than 400 items on display and all are from sale ranging from $20 to $4 million including silver bars, gold coins, emerald necklaces, etc. The shop staff said that the items are a consignment deal with Mel Fisher's company in Key West and they have a large warehouse there housing much of the treasure they have found. They sell the items there also. They indicated that Mel's company (he died in the early 1990's) is still looking for the stern section of the Atocha which reportedly housed the church jewels and artifacts plus treasure of the wealthy passengers valued at $500 million - as much as was found so far! It was very interesting - if you want to go, the location is:
Mel Fisher's Treasure Company
2353 Periwinkle Way, Suite 201
Sanibel Island, Fla
941-395-5376
The shop said that the owner, Shawn X, runs seminars Wednesday evenings, but due to a death in the family, he was out of town the week I was there. The indicated that Shawn is/was one of the original Mel Fisher divers for 15 years and he is running this shop and pursuing his own wrecks. The seminars are intended to get investors interested in his search for the PILAR which sank off the Philippines in 1750. The Pilar has been written about several times on this forum. If you are interested in this, Shawn can be contacted at the above number.
The museum was worth the $5 so if you get to this part of Florida, you might see it.
Roger
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