I'm not an investor but I've made a couple of Atocha dives. While the investor route is always a viable option, it's all about timing. The whole industry is... the sea floor can look different day to day, day to year, or day to 398 years (2020-1622). Short story... I was at a technical dive shop in New Jersey back in 1995. I happened to see a flyer on the counter that caught my attention and a phone call later I was on the list to make a 10th Anniversary commemorative dive on the Atocha. Arriving a little early, I joined in on some lectures, got a full behind the scenes tour of the museum narrated by KT, followed by a tour of some of the conservation labs narrated by Syd. I even spent some time polishing reales right out of the electrolysis tub. Pretty cool holding a couple of dozen authentic and shiny silver reales in your hand. On Saturday, we boarded a liveaboard and headed West. There's a ballast pile out near Fort Jefferson you can easily snorkel... but like many sites in FL, it's protected. There are some gorgeous wreck sites out between Key West and Fort Jefferson. On Saturday night, Syd narrated an amazing slide show on the top deck of the boat as we headed towards the Margarita and Atocha sites. We arrived back at the dock just in time for a 10 year anniversary party in the museum courtyard with the Atocha elite, including Mel. I took tons of pictures and videos and it was an experience I'll never forget. I've been back many times since and occasionally show up for Mel Fisher Days. I'm a huge 1715 buff now but it was the Atocha dive that started a long journey through history and treasure isn't always shiny.
(although this was MANY moons ago)
Ya never know...
Take the dive... you may end up looking like my avatar.
<---------------------- (for larger picture go to my profile and click on album)
