JACKSONVILLE, Florida (3 June 2003) -- The Treasure Coast lived up to its name for some weekend divers. Capt. John Wilson, a diver who is authorized by the state to recover treasures from the sea hit a bounty on his first dive of the year Sunday afternoon. "I thought at first it was a gold disc because gold was transported in discs and bars," Wilson said. "We knew exactly what it was (when it was brought up) -- it was a 22-carat gold jewelry box." When they opened it, Wilson and his crew discovered that the box was packed with jewels -- treasures once aboard the Nuesta Signora di Regalla, which wrecked after a powerful hurricane in 1715. For the past 50 years, many divers tried to unearth the ship's treasures, but no one has had the success Wilson had on Sunday. | | "I was so excited to find it, but it was so thrilling to open it up," Wilson said. Wilson thinks his mother, whose ashes he spread near the site a little more than a year ago, may have had something to with his success at sea. "I said 'Thank you, Mom, for everything, and every once in a while, throw a little gold our way, because you're out here with it.' And I think she might have. I'm not sure," Wilson said, laughing. The treasures are on display at the Mel Fisher Treasure Museum in Sebastian. The jewels are estimated at $500,000. SOURCE - News4Jax |
