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. . . As my underwater adventures continue, I will now dive deeper into the many diverse aspects that our maritime culture holds. Join me here as we journey across the country to hear just a few of the tales and adventures from some who have invested in the world's greatest treasure hunter, Mel Fisher and his Key West Enterprise.
. . . Paul Pfaff has been visiting the Florida Keys from Collinsville, Illinois for 13 years now. The Pfaff family has a cottage on Summerland Key and frequents the Key West area 3-4 times a year. Upon one of his strolls through Key West, Paul had taken an interest in the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum and decided to venture in to explore what the museum had to offer. While there he had felt the sensation of interest and excitement while gazing upon the many intriguing artifacts on display from the shipwreck of the Spanish Galleon, Nuestra Senora de Atocha. As Paul wandered through the treasure gift shop he ran into Mel Fisher, himself, and through their conversation the subject of investment opportunities was brought up. Years before Mel had tried to convince Paul's mother to invest in the 1715 Fleet, but much to their dismay and regret they had chosen not to. Finally, Paul had made up his mind and thought he could not pass this up one more time and invested there on the spot.
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. . . As an investor, Paul and his family could now join Mel Fisher's crew on the salvage vessel, M/V Dauntless to see for themselves how the job gets done. Paul even had the chance to witness the divers bring up a handful of silver coins while he was there. He called it "history in the making." Paul mentioned that he would recommend any investor to take a trip out to the wreck site to get the feel and the thrill of what it is like to be a part of it all. Paul said the trip to the site has been by far one of the best parts of his investment and would do it again in a minute, but mentioned that the highlight of his whole experience has been the "good, good people" at Mel Fisher's, whether it is the divers or those that work in the building. He said, "When you walk in the door everyone makes you feel like family."
. . . After years of thinking about investing and the interest that was building, Paul is thankful that he did not pass up on the investment of a lifetime, the Atocha. He said there is an aura that makes you want to be a part of it. He confesses that it is not about the dollars and cents of the investment, it is about the finding of magnificent artifacts from another time and place in history and being a part of that history that lures one into the mystery and adventure of shipwreck recovery.
. . . As long as Debbie Snyder could remember, she has always had an interest and fascination of history and archaeology. So when the chance came to invest in history, she and husband, John, jumped at it. It all started when a friend of Debbie's had attended a show in the Kansas City area where Atocha items and artifacts were on display.
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This caught Debbie's interest knowing that the coin her husband wears around his neck was from the Atocha shipwreck. At this point the Snyder's were not aware of investing. That same October Debbie and John headed south to Key West and meet with Steve Atherton who handles investor relations for Mel Fisher's. Once they realized how simple and easy it was, they immediately signed up. According to Debbie, "It was all so exciting, the search for treasure, the archeology, every aspect of the investment was thrilling." She said once she was given an opportunity to be a part of history, she could not find words to describe it! Little did the Snyders know they would soon be searching for treasure at the bottom of the Ocean themselves.
. . . Debbie and John joined the crew of the Dauntless at the end of July for an exciting two days. The Snyders equipped themselves with the necessary gear and took four dives a day with the rest of the crew. Debbie said, "It was neat to be part of the Dauntless crew, they made us feel very welcome the entire time we were on the boat." As the Snyders and the rest of the divers were meticulously sweeping the ocean bottom with metal detectors, a strong hit buzzed throughout the water.
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After much underwater excitement and suspense, Diver Jim Smith unveiled a link of the cinta belt that consisted of pearls, rubies and other precious gems. Debbie said Jim put the piece in front of her mask and "my eyes got as big as saucers. Once you see gold appear, you can't beat it! A piece of the cinta belt had not been found for 16 years! The divers were ecstatic and informed the Snyders that they were good luck on this trip. The next day they made four more dives, one of which the Snyders hard work paid off as they came up with two silver coins of their own.
. . . Overall the experience for the Snyders has been one of excitement and rewards.
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"Everyone we have dealt with at Mel Fisher's, rather it be the divers, Steve Atherton, or Kim Fisher they have been the most helpful and an incredible group of people." Debbie also mentioned that she was hooked big time and if she had a job in Key West right now she would put in her resignation today and head down to search for treasure for a living! The Snyders can now say that their investment with Mel Fisher has paid off, as they now are a part of that archeological history.
. . . Two years ago Jack Krause ventured down from St. Louis to Key West for the Ernest Hemingway look-a-like contest finals. While he was exploring the many sites of the island, Jack walked into Mel Fisher's treasure store. While there he was curious to know why news reporters and video cameras were all around and had filled the room. Jack soon discovered that the day before a gold chain had been found on the Atocha site by one of Mel Fisher's divers. Jack immediately became interested and his investment began that very same day. Steve Atherton had said there was 1/4 unit left and Jack replied with "I'll take it!"
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Recently, Jack and his wife, Marian, joined the Pfaff family for a visit out to the Atocha site. While there Jack enjoyed the entire experience of being on a trip to the site of a historical shipwreck. He also added that while watching how hard the divers work, he was amazed at the dedication and work ethic possessed by the Dauntless. He mentioned, "They really have a great crew out there." Jack has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Mel Fisher organization and working with a group that is "so enthusiastic about what they are doing!" Jack said "the thrill of it all has been amazing and really a lot of fun along the way."
. . . Carol Dantone grew up hearing about treasure her entire life. Her father had lived in California and remembers hearing about the early days of Mel Fisher's adventures. Ever since then he had shared many stories of treasure with his children. To Carol it was more than the story, it was the secrets and treasures of the ocean that would captivate her.
. . . Carol and Kurt's story began while renting a family vacation home in Del Ray Beach, Florida. Their travels had led them down the Keys to end up in Mel Fisher's Museum. The Fisher team had just discovered the motherlode of the Atocha and the overwhelming feeling of the entire place was one of contagious enthusiasm and celebration. Carol found herself fascinated with this and called her father to share the news with him. Five years ago, the Dantones sold their business in Illinois, packed up the family, and headed for the Sunshine State. While on another trip to Key West with friends Carol and Kurt headed to Rick's bar for a drink. Carol had asked one of the bartender's where Mel Fisher's Museum was again because they wanted to share it with their visiting friends. The bartender replied that Mel was just around the corner, of the bar that is! Sure enough there was Mel having his favorite, a rum and coke at the end of the bar. With nervousness and excitement inside of her Carol approached Mel and introduced herself and the others. They took pictures and talked a little about what Mel had been through to get where he was. Carol had read many stories, magazine articles, books on Mel and told him that she thought his story was sad because of all the hardships he had endured such as the loss of family members, court battles, etc. Mel replied, " I try not to think about it." Mel then invited the group to the museum and gave them a personal tour. It was than that he asked them if they would like to be part of it all and the way to start is with investing. He gave them the paperwork and told them to think about it. The Dantones had to head back to West Palm to return their friends to the airport. After getting them on their plane safely, Carol and Kurt turned right back around and made the five hour drive back to Key West and signed the paperwork that same day. This was just the beginning of the many tales and adventures the Dantones would have for themselves.
. . . Next, Carol and Kurt became certified to dive and broken in at Sebastian, Florida, by Kane and Taffi Fisher. The Fisher's taught them how to sift for emeralds on the boats, how to use the magnetometer, the works. The Dantones soon began diving on a regular basis with the Fisher crew.
. . . On September 1, 1996, Carol and Kurt were out working on the Dauntless. That day the crew was vacuuming the bottom of the ocean and sifting for emeralds.
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Kurt had promised Carol he was going to find her an emerald, as that day was their anniversary. Sure enough Kurt had found the sparkle of the green and because it was their first emerald find, the Dantones got to keep it. They took the emerald home with them and had it set in a ring. What an anniversary present!
. . . Since then the Dantones have been a part of it all. At times, Kurt has worked in the conservation lab and Carol in the treasure shop. The Dantones have come to be a familiar face at Mel Fisher's. They said the experience has been fabulous and they feel like not only investors, but also friends of the organization. Carol said they are honored to be a part of the Fisher family's life. The highlight for them is becoming friends with the Fisher's, "Friendship is the true treasure here." Through this experience Carol has lived out not only the dreams she has had since childhood, but also those of her father.
. . . Carol and Kurt will soon be diving again with Captain Gary Randolph and the crew of the J/B Magruder in search of emeralds, treasures, and many more memories.
. . . In January 1996, Jean Thornton was in Key West with several friends for a four day mid-winter break from school, when Debbie Sexton and Jean, split from the rest of the group to visit Mel Fisher's Museum. They were in the gift shop when the announcement was made for the last showing of the video that day, since they had to meet their other friends on Duval Street very shortly, Jean told Debbie to go see the video and Jean would get their other friends and meet her at Mallory Square for the sunset. Well, as fate would have it, after purchasing some earrings, Jean found herself in Mel's office for a picture, gold chain around her neck and gold disc in hand. She said meeting Mel was like meeting an old friend, and the fact that her mother's maiden name was Fisher, and they were both originally from Indiana, and the fact that Mel had attended the University of Alabama, Jean's alma mater, well - - you get the picture. We will skip the gory details of how Debbie was mad at Jean for not coming to get her out of the video when she met Mel. Debbie's only consolation was to have Jean take her back the next day to meet Mel for herself. They had a delightful meeting, which included a trip to the salvage boats and seeing several emeralds that had just been brought in. When Mel told them that they could become a part of his business and would actually get to look for treasure themselves, Jean and Debbie pulled out their Visa cards and invested right there on the spot! That is how two school teachers - in their forties - ended up taking dive lessons in Birmingham that very same month. They probably seemed like "Lucy & Ethel" to their dive instructors, and most people didn't believe that they would ever actually dive the Atocha, but much of Mel's contagious optimism and "can-do" attitude had already rubbed off on them, and these two were not to be stopped.
. . . Fast-forward to July 1996, as Debbie and Jean, now both Advanced PADI Open Water Divers, approached the Dauntless on Eric Denhart's Liberty Bell. Dauntless' Captain Kane Fisher, and the rest of the crew greeted them. After that glorious day of sifting through sand, finding emeralds, and diving the Atocha's ballast pile with Kane Fisher, they were hooked. Jean said she thinks she and Debbie became treasure hunters and pirates that very day and they begged to go back out and dive on the site one more time.
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Kane agreed, so the rest of their Key West vacation was not spent lounging on the beach, riding the Conch Train or visiting the Hemingway house. They spent their days helping purchase supplies, scrubbing decks and getting the Dauntless ready for the next trip. "Yes, I am sure," Jean said, "that we were very much like Lucy & Ethel, but I think all the guys knew that our hearts were in the right place, so they were all very good teachers and very patient with us." All of their diligence - and the crew's patience - paid off on their second dive on the Atocha. That is when they found an incredible 21-link gold money (or wedding) chain! "So much for all of the disbelievers and nay-sayers!" Jean and Debbie have been known as "the Golden Girls" ever since that glorious day, July 8, 1996.
. . . Debbie and Jean have continued to be investors since 1996, and every school holiday or opportunity that they have, they are in Key West diving, working on the boats, or doing whatever they can do to help increase their investments and find more treasure. That's why, when Jean was able to retire from teaching this year, she chose to come to Key West and work for Kim Fisher and his staff.
. . . These stories are treasures in themselves, as they connect the underwater world with people who might not have had the opportunity to see its many resources for themselves. It allows them to explore the magnificence and splendor that remains at the bottom of the ocean. They, too, are living out the dream that Mel Fisher left in the hearts of so many.
. . . These stories could be the personal accounts of any one of our hundreds of happy investors. The previous selection of these partners mentioned above was because at the time this article was written they were in Key West taking advantage of the open invitation that all of our investors have to journey out to sea and take part in the recovery for themselves.
