Galleon Hunter
Full Member
Hello: Will be doing a survey off the coast of Venezuela. The Archipielago Los Roques area in particular. Does anyone know of any shipwrecks in the area?
Thanks
Thanks
If you get any spare time, you may wish to check out Aves Island; in particular, the wreck site of the French Fleet of 1678. Nothing is visible but if you have the right survey equipment, you might spot some interesting artifacts. The story is fascinating: The lead ship fired its cannon, the trailing fleet thought that shot signaled the lead vessel had spotted the enemy fleet--so they rushed ahead. Unfortunately, the signal meant 'Caution, we have discovered a reef'. Sure enough, most of the vessels of the fleet were destroyed on that reef.
When my boat, the R/V Explorer, was there about 15 years ago (in search of goodies from the 1678 fleet), we were told we possessed only the second salvage permit in Venez. NWS, no wrecks/wreckage was visible in the area except pleasure craft enjoying the area.
Don....
Yes, next to (east of) Bonaire.
Strange that you would ask about shipwrecks in the area if, as you state, there are "maybe a hundred shipwrecks of different time periods", supposedly in the same area. Perhaps you are referring to another Aves Island just to the west of Guadeloupe, also claimed by Venez.
Don.........
Salvor6,
I don't believe Barry had a permit before we did if, indeed he had a permit (no harm intended).
I believe the first permit was issued to a group looking for a pearl ship off Margarita Island, NE of Cumana; that's my recollection.
Don...
Yes, the French fleet wreck site of D'Estrees was first salvaged by the French themselves, then the (lucky) Dutch. I don't know if any cannon remain.
Don.