AH-WR-0365

Nuestra Señora de Atocha

Galleon · Spain · Lost 1622 · The Florida Keys

A Spanish treasure galleon sunk by hurricane in 1622 near the Marquesas Keys, later famously salvaged by Mel Fisher.

Captain of Record

Dale W Clifton

AHR-1868

See Shipwreck on Map

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Historically Reconstructed. Drawn from partial documentation of this vessel together with her known class and configuration. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

Nuestra Señora de Atocha was a Spanish galleon of the Tierra Firme treasure fleet, carrying silver, gold, and gems from the New World. A hurricane sank her near the Marquesas Keys on 6 September 1622, killing most aboard. Treasure hunter Mel Fisher located the main wreck site in 1985 after a long search. The recovered treasure and artifacts are now among the most celebrated in American maritime archaeology.

Vessel

Built: 1620
Builder: Not established
Yard: Havana, Cuba
Material: Wood
Length: Not established
Beam: Not established
Tonnage: 550
Propulsion: Sail
Owners: Spanish Crown (Tierra Firme Fleet)

Loss

Date: September 6, 1622
Cause: Storm
Location: Near the Marquesas Keys, Florida
Water: Atlantic Ocean
Voyage: Havana, Cuba → Seville, Spain
Cargo: Silver bullion, gold, emeralds, and colonial merchandise
Aboard: 265
Lives lost: 260
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: 55 ft
Condition: Scattered debris field
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: 1985
Protection: Not established

Position

Coordinates: 24.50° N 82.20° W
Accuracy: Approximate position
Nearest: Marquesas Keys, Florida
Region: The Florida Keys

Evidence

Overall confidence: Well documented (90/100)

Mel Fisher Maritime Museum
Loss, salvage, and archaeological details
National Park Service Submerged Resources Center
Wreck site and historical context