The Island Wreck Site Underwater And Associated Photographs

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During the survey we discovered the wrecking process. We could see the initial impact with the reef, the old broken coral scattered. Then as the ship was pushed towards the shallows the double pile of cannons on either side as the crew jettisoned over both sides at the same time, in desperation to lighten the ship. The anchors which were used to stop the ship from beaching which failed and the smaller anchor used for kedging which broke. The trail of granite blocks as the crew got them up from the hold and jettisoned them as the ship was being blown even further to the shallows to the south. Finally the ballast stones, as the hull were smashed open and the ship lost.

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Larger ballast stones in about 1.5 meters of water

Larger ballast stones in about 1.5 meters of water

Larger ballast stones close inshore

Larger ballast stones close inshore

Interesting coral shapes, possibly created by the sea urchins

Interesting coral shapes, possibly created by the sea urchins

A nice round brain coral

A nice round brain coral

The dead destroyed coral in the path of the ship as she was wrecked. This was used to great effect to calculate the wrecking process

The dead destroyed coral in the path of the ship as she was wrecked. This was used to great effect to calculate the wrecking process

More large round ballast stones closer inshore

More large round ballast stones closer inshore

The coral strata on the islands shoreline

The coral strata on the islands shoreline

A lead patch found in the shallows close to the beach

A lead patch found in the shallows close to the beach

Looking out to the wreck site with the historic El Morro mountain in the distance, rising like a beacon for historic navigation

Looking out to the wreck site with the historic El Morro mountain in the distance, rising like a beacon for historic navigation

Using metal detectors during the survey to look for clues

Using metal detectors during the survey to look for clues

One of our friends well camouflaged

One of our friends well camouflaged

The Team dove all the way round the base of the reef on the eastern side of the island looking for clues

The Team dove all the way round the base of the reef on the eastern side of the island looking for clues

ADMAT's maritime archaeological  work on this wreck site was assisted by ADMAT-FRANCE a non profit organisation based in the Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

ADMAT-FRANCE is a sub division of the Anglo ~ Danish Maritime Archaeological Team

ADMAT is delighted to have an association with Muséum Nationald’Histoire Naturelle at Paris, départememt Préhistoire, UMR-CNRS 7194.