To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click here to follow us on Instagram! Some stories talked of failed attempts by sailors to board the ship. For your pleasure, we have compiled a short list of some of the greatest shipwrecks that are still out there, waiting to be found. We reveal the most amazing shipwreck discoveries. Titanic - USD 200 million Wreck of the RMS Titanic. The Nuestra Señora de Atocha was one of the most valuable shipwrecks in history. Just about three hours northwest of Toronto, the body of water is home to over 20 shipwrecks. Famous explorer Ernest Shackleton's attempt at an overland crossing of Antarctica came to a tragic end in 1915. During the Battle of Diu, the ship was instrumental in helping to capture Malacca. You probably recognize the name Santa Maria from your history lessons at school. In October of that year, his three-masted barquentine, the Endurance, became trapped by dense ice in the Weddell Sea off Antarctica, rendering it immobile. Attempts have been made to recover the Endeavor's remnants, and while a team has narrowed its search to "one or two sites" in Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay, the exact location remains elusive. It landed on an island in Lake Michigan and traded with the local Native Americans, loading up on animal pelts and setting out from present-day Green Bay. In 2019, the anchor was found off the coast of the U.K., but the shipwreck—and its estimated $1.5 billion in gold—remains undiscovered. Little was known about what could have caused the disappearance, but it was believed to have been overloaded, with 11,000 tons of manganese as well as 306 crew members. Several salvagers have claimed to have found Columbus’ missing flagship over the years, but all of these claims have proven to be false. While all three made it safely to the Americas, after declaring the entire place the property of Spain, Columbus set out on a search for gold, spices, and other valuables on the Santa Maria. The ship’s loss was especially tragic because it was carrying a profoundly valuable cargo of treasure. Perhaps the most famous shipwreck in the world, the RMA Titanic sank in 1912 after its hull was gouged by an iceberg. There are numerous theories as to what happened to it, but no proof for any of these theories exists. Although only 185 lbs of weapons, jewelry and tin and copper ingots were found, the lack of volume is made up for by the wreck’s historical significance. Finally, it caught fire, and on July 13, 1594, it sank. The ship, dubbed the 'holy grail of shipwrecks', marks the most valuable deep-sea treasure haul to date. https://www.channel4.com/news/the-greatest-undiscovered-shipwrecks Nicknamed "Australia's Titanic," this 500-foot steamship vanished in July 1909 as it was making its way from Durban, South Africa to Cape Town, carrying 211 passengers and crew. Such is the case with panicked shipwrecks, marsh-ridden shortcuts and cave-buried secrets that time has forgotten. These Are The Most Famous Undiscovered Shipwrecks | Best Life The Flor del la Mar (Flower of the Sea) was built in 1502 and was a 400-ton Portuguese merchant vessel. How valuable is the Titanic shipwreck lost treasure? 3,422 Carthaginian bronze coins Ship: N/A The story goes that on Christmas Eve 1492, the explorer went to bed and left a cabin boy in charge of steering the ship. Columbus, over the course of his career, ended up losing nearly a dozen ships to the sea, but by far, the Santa Maria was his most famous loss. This is because it proves the existence of a trade network between Britain and continental Europe during the … This popular pill could be putting your health at risk. ), there are still dozens out there. Join us as we take a look at the 10 most valuable shipwrecks ever found. Not only did they find the remains of this ancient ship but the treasures it held were mind-blowing. By Marina Yoveva Published Oct 14, 2018. While headed to Vancouver in 1931, the untamed, frigid waters of the North Pacific proved to be too tough for Baychimo, leaving the crew with no choice but to abandon ship. However, these incidents on the high seas are just as much fact as they are fiction. These are the most valuable shipwrecks ever discovered. Built by Robert de La Salle, a French explorer, it was made to survey Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and the Niagara River. San Jose galleon shipwreck with £1 billion treasure found off Colombia 'most valuable in history', says President Juan Manuel Santos. Another ship that's earned fame due more to its captain than its contents, this British Royal Navy research vessel was commanded by none other than James Cook during his first voyage of discovery between 1768 and 1771. Some theorize it may have been a German submarine or drunk captain who was to blame. On its return voyage in late 1511, the "Flower of the Sea" was caught in a storm off Timia Point in the Kingdom of Aru, Sumatra. It was eventually crushed by ice and sank in November. But in 1975, it was discovered that the cross was stolen. Columbus, over the course of his career, ended up losing nearly a dozen ships to the sea, but by far, the Santa Maria was his most famous loss. This French sailing vessel was the largest ship to cross the Great Lakes, sailing Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan in August 1679. By today’s standard the 7 million ounces of silver uncovered is worth a whopping $210 million. Zadar, home of the sea organ, is an otherworldly place. The Bonhomme Richard and its artifacts haven't been seen since (despite occasional glimmers of hope). Many of these shipwrecks are being actively searched for; some of these searches are being funded by private organizations, whilst some are sanctioned by governments. Nothing more was heard from the ship again. Lost wartime treasures are an historical fact of human existence. Many of the most valuable shipwrecks treasures are yet to be found and recovered. The hugely valuable shipwreck was finally uncovered in 2011 and became the largest precious metal recovery in history. Some suspected that the fur traders on board may have been involved with the destruction or that Le Griffon had been attacked by people of the First Nations. This video is guaranteed to improve your day. left a cabin boy in charge of steering the ship, did not go down in a dramatic battle or deadly fight, the White Whale for Great Lake shipwreck hunters, worst American naval disaster of World War II, 400-ton, 16th-century Portuguese sailing ship, hammered by the better-armed British ship HMS, The 30 Most Fascinating Unsolved Mysteries in America. The graves of Egyptian queen Nefertiti and the Mongol Emperor Genghis Khan have never been found, though they are both believed to hold great riches. One of these ships has an estimated $2.6 billion in treasure! There are people who spend their whole lives and considerable sums of money searching for sunken treasure ships, lost mines, and hidden loot. Read on below to find out the most valuable things ever to be found at the bottom of the ocean so far. Boats.com The Merchant Royal. Imagine what … Tucker entered the museum and noticed that the thief carefully replaced the item in the display case with a poorly made plastic replica. The seafloor of the Caribbean Sea looks like a pirate's idea of heaven. The recovery was performed by the US company Odyssey Marine Exploration. A new CDC report highlights how it will likely happen. Christopher Columbus on Santa Maria in 1492. Buried By Time and Dust There are many companies in the world that are hunting for lost treasures in the sea bed. First launched in May 1910, it was commissioned for World War I, serving along the East Coast of the United States until it was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service in January 1918. According to treasure hunter Robert Marx, “it’s the richest vessel ever lost at sea, with its hold loaded with 200 coffers of precious stones, diamonds from the small half-inch size to the size of a man’s fist.”, Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, Police arrest a 72-year-old “suburban grandfather” suspected of being the Golden State Killer, “I’m not dead yet”: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes’ secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The “Walk of Shame” in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gödel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, “Little Ease”: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. On its way to Baltimore after leaving Rio de Janeiro, the ship disappeared. According to a small group of smart, overachieving explorers from the Arctic Research Foundation, a 19th century shipwreck has been found. Today still, the art of treasure hunting survives, and few treasures are more appealing than shipwrecks. In a Bond-esque turn of events, this extremely valuable item vanished without a trace. General Afonso de Albuquerque and a number of his men survived the wreck, but there were many casualties, including the ship itself, which has yet to be found—and an alleged $2.6 billion in treasure, according to The Daily Beast. Despite Jones' perseverance—he allegedly said, "Sir, I have not yet begun to fight! Treasure hunting has become something interesting and has gotten many people fortunate and rich. The ship, dubbed the 'holy grail of shipwrecks', marks the most valuable deep-sea treasure haul to date. The sinking of Indianapolis is now remembered as the worst American naval disaster of World War II. Over the years as technology has improved, more and more discoveries on the ocean's floor have been made, proving that treasure chests don't just exists in pirate tales. When it was sent out to support the Portuguese conquest of the Malay Sultanate of Malacca, it had been deemed unsafe—but the conquerors needed every ship they could get. The R/V Petrel, a research vessel that's already discovered dozens of shipwrecks, recently found the hull of the USS Wasp -- an aircraft carrier sunk by Japanese torpedoes in 1942 off Guadalcanal. Historians believe that these shipwrecks are hiding billions of dollars worth of treasure between them, though international law means that if you found some, you might not necessarily be able to keep it. Underwater photography and scuba diving are believed to be one of the rarest forms of meditation. It could be one of the greatest nautical finds ever, but there are many other famous shipwrecks still waiting to be discovered. Unfortunately, the researchers called off the effort in the face of extreme weather. Both American coasts abound with tales of buried pirate treasure. "We swam one circle around the central mound and counted 12 … To this day, the wreck of the Flor de la Mar lies in wait, ready for a lucky underwater adventurer to disturb its resting place and strike it rich. Many of those reports said that the ship was fairing quite well, and was seemingly unmanned. The first ship to sail the Great Lakes was the Griffin in 1679. Share Share Tweet Email Comment. For centuries, untold riches of gold, silver, and jewels buried with the world's most valuable shipwreck were dreamt of by generations of sailors, squires, and … Under the command of Francisco de Mello, the ship was allegedly loaded with "precious stones and all the best of India," having taken on the cargo from two other ships that had been lost in battle. Of the more than two thousand passengers on the ship, only around 700 survived. Attempts have been made to find "Shackleton's lost ship," most recently in February 2019. According to legend, though, the ship didn’t sink. What's the most gold ever discovered on a sunken ship? He said one proposed vaccine plan isn't workable. The Santa Maria ran aground in present-day Haiti and Columbus determined it was beyond repair. And for more real-life tales that have no endings, check out The 30 Most Fascinating Unsolved Mysteries in America. After making a top-secret delivery of the nuclear variety to a U.S. military base in the Northern Mariana Islands during World War II, this heavy cruiser was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sunk in 12 minutes. Location: Tobermory, Ontario Big Tub Harbour is the place to be if you're a diver. But as it approached Portugal, the Chagas was attacked by British privateer ships and bombarded nonstop for two days. The company recovered more than 50,000 coins worth more than £40million. 2. The added weight and poor condition of the craft, combined with a spate of bad weather, led its pumps to break down and the whole thing to sink off of Land's End in Cornwall County, England. In 2004 Odyssey discovered the SS Republic, a shipwreck lost in 1865 off the U.S.coast. While about 900 of the crew survived the immediate attack, they were left stranded in shark-infested waters. But the historic vessel did not go down in a dramatic battle or deadly fight with the elements. These mighty ships might once have scoured oceans after oceans, but they are now secretly dreaming of beautiful islands and harbors. More than 22 ingots were found along with 6 cannons, swords, more than 50 elephant tusks, and thousands of gold coins (traceable to King Joao III). PETER DOCKRILL. The ship's crew was able to escape to safety by floating on ice packs. It is also known for its dramatic sinking. The 119-foot-long schooner was built in 1867 and used to transport coal for 18 years, until damage caused her to sink. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. However, it was not until 1985 that a group finally succeeded in reaching the massive ship. However, it also had a history of springing leaks and needing repairs. On top of that, the ship's captain offered to carry additional cargo from a Spanish ship that had caught fire. It was built in Sweden in 1914 and was owned by a German shipping enterprise until the start of WWI. Scientists Have Found The 'Holy Grail of Shipwrecks' And Up to $17 Billion in Treasure . © 2020 Galvanized Media. After more than 20 years had gone by, and no other sightings of Baychimo had been made, everyone assumed it had finally gone down. People who love ghost stories might find this lost vessel to be especially interesting. The Diamond shipwreck is the oldest shipwreck ever uncovered on Africa’s coast. This is an index of lists of shipwrecks (i.e. "—the ship sank. This 400-ton, 16th-century Portuguese sailing ship had an impressive nine-year career, making numerous trips through the Indian Ocean. While navigating the Strait of Malacca in 1511, a violent storm off the coast of Sumatra not only sank the Flor del la Mar, but ripped the boat into two pieces. 2 of 9 Attribution: YouTube. The vessel was powered by steam and weighed 1,322 tons. As it seems to happen with most all found treasures, shortly after its discovery a lawsuit was filed laying claim to the wreck by a man who accused the Odyssey of using his information in location of the wreck. On its way back to London, the rundown vessel began to leak. The world's greatest shipwrecks and their treasures ARCHAEOLOGISTS were called in when a worker stumbled across a number of strange artefacts in Africa, leading to what may be one of the most significant shipwrecks ever found. List of shipwrecks of France Click through for some of the greatest ocean treasure discoveries in history. Last week was a good week for shipwreck aficionados. 25 Rare Pictures Of Sunken Ships Most Have Never Seen Before . According to reports, the Chagas was carrying 22 chests of treasure—including diamonds, rubies, and pearls—estimated today to be worth some $1 billion. 10. Millions of dollars have been spent trying to find these ships so it is unknown if they will ever be found. This U.S. Navy ship was one of the more famous victims of the notorious Bermuda Triangle. Off the coast of Haiti is where the famous ship ran aground on a coral reef on Christmas Eve in 1492. But in September of 1679, on its maiden voyage, the ship disappeared. A federal judge ruled in favor of Odyssey, and in 2004 the company was legally awarded ownership of the S.S. Republic’s cargo. This English merchant ship traded between England and the Spanish colonies in the West Indies during the late 1630s, and was reputed to be carrying 100,000 pounds of gold and plenty of other valuables when it took its final, fateful trip. It had been launched less than a year earlier and had plenty of opulent accommodations, including 100 first-class cabins, a luxurious music lounge, and delicious eats. 23 MAY 2018 . It was never again found. This Continental Navy ship served the American Patriot cause well, reportedly capturing 16 British merchant ships in the first weeks it was put to use under Captain John Paul Jones. Both the Nina and Pinta made it home to Spain. By Stephanie Pappas 15 November 2017. The Spanish galleon was owned by King Philip IV before sinking into the ocean in 1622 during a hurricane. Scientists Have Found The 'Holy Grail of Shipwrecks' And Up to $17 Billion in Treasure . Live smarter, look better,​ and live your life to the absolute fullest. The Sweepstakes is one of the most visible shipwrecks in Canada, with a resting depth of only 20 feet below the surface of Lake Huron, in Big Tub Harbour, Ontario. For now, no evidence has surfaced to help solve the mystery. As of 2006, officials in Alaska renewed their interest in locating the so-called ghost ship. From gold doubloons, to solid platinum bullion, to 2,000-year-old Roman pickle jars, here are some of the most valuable shipwrecks ever recovered. The Antikythera shipwreck, a Roman vessel that went down sometime around 70 B.C., is still revealing new ancient treasures, including a bronze arm found in … When we found it, within 15 minutes we found the bell, the blunderbuss, a big 20-pound lead sounding weight," Daniel said. It would be known as the worst American naval disaster of World War II; the ship itself has never been recovered. US explorers say they have found Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria. Shipwrecks are the stuff of movie magic. The ship and the history it holds remain lost. The vaccine won't only prevent you from getting sick. Numerous salvaging plans were put forth to try and reach the Titanic from the moment it sank. Here are just a few of the most famous ships that disappeared to the depths never to be seen again. Whatever the case, the fur-bearing ship remains "the White Whale for Great Lake shipwreck hunters," according to Atlas Obscura. For centuries, untold riches of gold, silver, and jewels buried with the world's most valuable shipwreck were dreamt of by generations of sailors, squires, and treasure hunters alike. 23 MAY 2018 . Several salvagers have claimed to have found Columbus’ missing flagship over the years, but all of … Another much-sought-after tomb is that of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor. Probably the largest treasure among them is La Flor de la Mar — The Flower of the Sea — a Portuguese frigate that set sail from Malacca, Malaysia, in 1511 carrying the largest treasure ever assembled in Portugal’s naval history. Both the Nina and Pinta made it home to Spain. But in October 1814, on its way to the Caribbean, it disappeared without a trace. Some hold wealth in the form of gold and gems, others in the form of information about the ship and the people who sailed her. It’s estimated that, beneath Earth’s waters, 3 million undiscovered shipwrecks exist. Treasure hunters have found the richest shipwreck in the world - off Land s End. And while technological advancements and the concerted efforts of treasure hunters have led to the discovery of many of the greatest ships lost at sea (the Titanic included! In 1594, this Portuguese carrack was nearing the end of a long trip from India to Portugal, carrying more than 1,100 people. The famous ship is still believed to be somewhere off the coast of Haiti to this day. Treasure hunters are an example of how to become rich from the oceans. It’s actually been found — protected by the famed Terracotta Army — and is thought to contain priceless artifacts. The last sighting was in 1969. The ship remains undiscovered, and while an archeological explorer claimed to have found it in 2014, experts concluded it could not have been the famous ship. The final sighting of the SS Waratah was believed to have occurred on July 28, 1909, during a violent storm. Clueless at first, Tucker would later learn that the 22 carat solid gold cross with emeralds was the single most valuable object ever recovered from a shipwreck, and that it was possibly the remains of the Spanish galleon San Pedro which sunk in 1594. After that, there were dozens of sightings of Baychimo over the next 38 years from captains, Inuits, and fisherman. The vessel and its invaluable historic riches remain lost to the sea. That was until an Intuit crew claimed to have seen the Baychimo floating along the coast of the Beaufort Sea. Enter your email address to get the best tips and advice. The 62-gun, three-masted galleon sank in June 1708, during a battle with British ships in the War of Spanish Succession, with the loss of nearly 600 lives. PETER DOCKRILL. Some of the most famous and amazing treasure hunters are Mel … Check out the Most VALUABLE Lost Treasures NOBODY Can Find! Anyone with a passing knowledge of North American history is familiar with this vessel, one of the trio of ships (along with the Niña and the Pinta) that sailed with Christopher Columbus on his way to the New World. He would also discover many, many other valuables at the same site.