First Artefacts Recovered From San José Galleon

Colombia retrieves initial items from the “Holy Grail of shipwrecks,” offering new insight into an 18th-century maritime tragedy.

San Jose Galleon Artefacts
Wrecks & Archaeology

Colombian scientists have recovered the first artefacts from the wreck of the San José, a Spanish galleon sunk in 1708 during the War of Spanish Succession. Long described as the “Holy Grail” of shipwrecks due to its immense cargo of bullion, ceramics and private wealth, the site has remained untouched for over 300 years until the recent carefully controlled extraction.

Colombia Looks to Recover Treasures from the 'San José' Shipwreck

Colombia is set to embark on a historic underwater expedition to recover objects from the 1708 shipwreck of the galleon San José, which has been dubbed the “holy grail of shipwrecks.“

Wrecks & Archaeology

(TOP BANNER IMAGE: Samuel Scott / Wikimedia / public domain)

The San José, a three-decked galleon approximately 150ft long and armed with 64 guns, sank during a battle with British ships in 1708. It is believed to contain 11 million gold and silver coins, emeralds and other precious cargo from Spanish colonies. Researchers have identified bronze cannons, ceramic and porcelain vases, and personal weapons among the artefacts, confirming the wreck’s identity.

Colombian government releases new imagery of San Jose wreck

Colombia's Navy has shared unprecedented images of the legendary San Jose galleon shipwreck, thought to be carrying 200 tons of gold, silver and precious stones.

Spain's San Jose galleon was loaded with a vast cargo of treasure when it was sunk by British navy ships in 1708 during the War of the Spanish Succession
Wrecks & Archaeology

After the recent elaborate diving expedition at a depth of 950 meters (3,117 feet), the Colombian Navy has published new footage of the legendary ship and its treasures.

Colombia finds two shipwrecks near legendary San José galleon

The Colombian Navy confirmed Monday that it has located two large shipwrecks close by the San José galleon

Wrecks & Archaeology

The San Jose galleon which was sunk by the British in 1708 near Colombia's Caribbean port of Cartagena and located in 2015 has been described as the holy grail of shipwrecks, as the ship was carrying one of the largest amounts of valuables ever to have been lost at sea.

Dive operations to Malpelo to cease

Coiba Dive Expeditions to cease Malpelo operations effective January 2018 citing decision by Colombian government to only permit boats operating out of Colombian ports.

Travel & Trips
Coiba Dive Expeditions

Otmar Hanser, Coiba Dive Expeditions, writes:

It is with a heavy heart that we are informing you of our decision to cease our operation to Malpelo effective January 2018.

The Colombian government decided end of last year to change the rules for the permits to Malpelo National Park. From 2018 onwards, only boats operating from Colombian ports will be allowed to visit Malpelo, citing the need to implement and guarantee the national sovereignty of their country as the primary reason for this change.

Spanish galleon laden with vast treasure located

Colombia has found the wreck of a Spanish galleon that sank off the coast of Cartagena and is thought to be laden with emeralds and gold and silver coins, the country’s president, Juan Manuel Santos, said on Friday.

Wrecks & Archaeology

The San Jose was carrying gold, silver, gems and jewellery collected in the South American colonies to be shipped to Spain's king to help finance his war of succession against the British when it was sunk in June 1708 during heavy fighting off the coast of Cartagena. In the fighting the vessel was reported to have exploded, with most of its crew killed.

X-RAY MAGAZINE FEATURE

Malpelo Island Revisited

The main reason for diving Malpelo Island is the sharks. The area is known for large schools of hammerheads, silky sharks, Galapagos and whitetip sharks. In the winter there is a population of sand tigers, and in late summer and fall, whale sharks call these waters their home. Other large pelagics can also be viewed. Tuna, jacks and eagle rays are not uncommon, with the occasional manta ray making an appearance.

Words:
Larry Cohen and Olga Torrey
Images:
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Travel & Trips

The reason for all of this large life is an abundance of food being brought in by strong ocean currents. So diving conditions are not easy. Currents could be very strong and visibility clouded by all the nutrients in the water. But this is the price to pay for hanging out with the big boys. Two hundred and thirty miles from Panama and 270 miles from the coast of Columbia is the large rock rising from the Pacific Ocean that is Malpelo Island. The rock itself is home to a small Columbian military base, ranger station and colony of sea birds.

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Malpelo Island

Three of world’s best shark spots are located far off the coast of Central and South American, in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The least known of them, the tiny Colombian island of Malpelo, together with Galapagos and Cocos, create a “golden triangle” for big fish fans.

Words:
Wolfgang Pölzer
Images:
Wolfgang Pölzer
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Travel & Trips

Swarms of doctor-, handle- and butterflyfish could be on anything of it and seemed to dance around us effortlessly. Moray eels, with bodies as thick as a person’s arms, were not peering out of their residential holes with only their heads as one usually finds them, but meandered out in the open virtually defenseless between the sparsely colonized rocks. Mostly flat, sharp barnacles were growing on the outcroppings; beautiful pink-colored coralline algae covered the jagged volcanic rock.

 

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