Image source, Getty Images
Powerful storms are uncovering centuries-old shipwrecks and maritime treasures along the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda. These discoveries are not just for professional divers; even casual beachgoers can stumble upon pieces of history.
As hurricane season kicks into high gear, coastal communities brace for the impact. But for those who love the sea, these storms can unearth extraordinary finds, potentially rewriting our understanding of maritime history.
The coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Bermuda are world-renowned for their density of shipwrecks. Hurricanes churn the waters, exposing hull fragments, artifacts, and long-lost cargoes.
Marine archaeologists are racing to document these findings, but increasingly, it’s ordinary people who make the initial discoveries.
North Carolina’s coast, famously known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” holds the remains of over 1,000 shipwrecks. These range from vessels that ran blockades during the Civil War to German U-boats from World War II.
Bermuda, situated on a coral platform, has seen more than 300 ships founder since the 16th century. This concentration of wrecks has solidified its reputation within the infamous “Bermuda Triangle.”
“It’s always been an island of shipwrecks,” says Philippe Rouja, Bermuda’s government-appointed custodian of shipwrecks. He notes that because the islands lacked local populations and natural resources, each arriving ship was a vital supply source.
Historically, islanders salvaged valuable materials from these wrecks. Today, Rouja oversees more than 40 public shipwrecks and works to map and study hundreds more.
Storms and hurricane swells can disturb entire wrecks, revealing their hidden treasures. “Any shipwreck you think you know, you have to see it again after a hurricane,” Rouja explains. “It’s a mix of anticipation and a bit of concern.”
Image source, Getty Images
Rouja collaborates with local divers to monitor sites and report new findings. This means certified divers visiting during hurricane season (June to November) might be the first to see artifacts unseen for centuries.
Even small objects, like an old shoe or an anchovy can, can help Rouja’s team identify a wreck.
He recalls an instance where an accountant, while diving for lobsters, stumbled upon a wreck. It turned out to be the Justice, a vessel that sank in 1950.
You don’t even have to dive
In North Carolina, many recent discoveries have been unearthed from beneath beach dunes. Shipwrecks from centuries past were buried by shifting sands or exposed by storms.
“People walking their dogs might see a ship’s frame sticking out of a dune after a storm,” says Stephen Atkinson, a shipwreck expert with the North Carolina Department of Underwater Archaeology.
This was the case with a shipwreck discovered in the Outer Banks, where a local resident noticed exposed fragments after a significant storm. Gold coins found nearby, dating to the early 17th century, suggest it could be North Carolina’s oldest known shipwreck.
Previously, that record was held by the Queen Anne’s Revenge, captained by the notorious pirate Blackbeard. The ship sank in 1718 and was discovered in 1996.
Anyone finding artifacts is encouraged to document their discoveries and report them to the North Carolina Natural and Cultural Resources Department. Their names are credited, and they can participate further in research.
Atkinson shares, “We had a fellow named Scott Smith who reported a shipwreck. So, I put it in my database: ‘Scott Smith’s shipwreck.'”
Image source, Alex Rosen
Atkinson receives reports about potential finds almost weekly. “I love it when they send me photos,” he says, emphasizing how public reports, even minor ones, help track shipwreck impacts over time.
He describes beach treasure hunting after storms as a major tourist draw in areas like the Outer Banks.
The state has a “citizen archaeologist” program, and is adopting a system similar to Florida’s shipwreck labeling program. This will allow beachgoers to scan QR codes on found items to track their movement after storms.
In South Carolina, treasure seekers also anticipate storms. The coastline loses about 6 to 8 feet annually, a process accelerated by storms, leading to unusual finds for collectors.
“Storms can strip away sand and reveal long-hidden fossils,” explains Katie Lyons of Charleston Fossil Adventures. Her company organizes fossil-hunting excursions.
After a recent hurricane, Lyons’ team found an Ice Age monk seal arm bone, now housed in a local museum.
Typically, dozens of fossils are found after strong storms. The opening day of the season in mid-March sees many collectors eager to find new treasures.
“A lot of collectors want to go to the most remote places to see what the storm has brought,” Lyons says, advising to search among shell and rock piles rather than just sandy areas.
“The ocean sorts material by size, so you’ll find more items among the coarser gravel than in plain sand patches.”
Image source, Charleston Fossil Adventures
The emotion of treasure hunting
Bermuda’s most celebrated underwater treasure hunter was the late Teddy Tucker. In 1950, he discovered the “Tucker’s Cross,” a 16th-century Spanish shipwreck artifact inlaid with emeralds. The cross was stolen in 1975, shortly before it was to be shown to Queen Elizabeth II, and remains lost.
That find “introduced treasure hunting to a new generation,” Rouja notes. As divers realized the historical context added value to findings, many became avid researchers and historians.
“It’s more fun for people to be part of the public history of a find than to just take something home and have it sit on a shelf,” he adds.
Divers can improve their chances by exploring areas slightly away from the most popular shipwreck sites. Rouja suggests venturing a few hundred meters from a known wreck rather than immediately around it.
Most of Bermuda’s known shipwrecks lie deeper than 80 feet. Rouja estimates many more await discovery in the largely unexplored reefs surrounding the islands.
Image source, Suzie Dundas
As climate change intensifies storms, experts anticipate more shipwrecks surfacing. This offers greater opportunities for enthusiasts to contribute to rewriting maritime history.
New technologies, including drones and underwater cartography programs, are making shipwrecks more accessible.
Significant historical finds, like five bottles of wine from the 1864 shipwreck of the Mary Celeste, continue to fuel public fascination with underwater treasure hunting.
Rouja’s current quest is for a 45-kilogram bronze rooster that once topped the mast of Bermuda’s largest shipwreck. This was the SS America, a 150-meter-long Spanish luxury liner that wrecked on a coral reef in 1936.
The bronze rooster was lost by Tucker during one of his early expeditions.
“Keep an eye out,” Rouja advises. “If someone found it, that would be fantastic.”
