Hi everybody!

I am very new to the site and would like to get to know everybody a little better, learning more about you all and more about treasure hunting as well.

I'd like to propose that people post here a sort of mini autobiography including what kind of hunting you do/have done, how you got into it in the first place, any particular areas of interest and how you have pursued them. I'm not sure if this is the "done" thing on forum sites as I've never been a member of one before, but I thought I'd put it out there, and if you think it's not totally stupid please post your stories - I'm eager to read them. I'll hopefully start things off.

My name is Francesca, I'm 22 and have just graduated from Cardiff University in Wales. I grew up on the ocean, spending every evening and weekend in my local marina where my grandparents and parents kept their yachts. I suppose I first caught "the bug" during the annual yacht club treasure hunts - which were all in the name of fun, but which my young self I took very seriously. I have done no hunting but am in love with (excuse my lack of lingo) marine salvage -finding ships long lost to the world and discovering the secrets they took to the bottom of the ocean. I'm at the very beginning of my journey and don't know how long that journey will be, or if I will even ever get to make it. I hope one day I will have a story to tell here!

Francesca

It would be great if everyone just added information and photos in their profiles. Yes, I too would like to know more about the folks who post here.

There is a little more information about myself posted at, DELL . and, DELL, and here, DELL, and here, DELL and here DELL, 10 pages

But don't bother, it's a lot of boring reading with nothing to be learned.

The past, is past. I'm looking for new adventures that I can post on here. Like you, it is my dream to go to the Bahamas and search for historic shipwrecks, ancient civilizations, and treasure

Here is a bit of a tongue in cheek article on how I got started in Treasure hunting. You will first have to "click" on the article, and then use your keyboard zoom, "control +" to enlarge it enough to read. Enjoy! Dell

Hello again Francesca, we will have to stop meeting like this, lol. Seriously tho I am glad you made the Intro thread. I do think this is a good way to get to know each other, and this way does mean that you aren't interrupting anyone's thread. You are young Francesca, with your whole life before you. Make the most of it! enjoy it! and live it to the full. If the opportunity arises take that chance of an adventure, because you sure as heck will regret not doing so.

Life for me didn't offer those opportunities unfortunately. Times are different now to what they were when I was a young woman. Those adventurous lives were not thought of, or if they were, were never acted on. Of course I had those dreams, but could never fulfill them. For a start off, have you ever thought of, or even done any backpacking around the Countries that you hold in your dreams. You could for instance go with a like minded close friend for company. I am sure you will find casual work to keep you going financially. When you reach your desired Country, look for some work on boats, Charter boats maybe to start with. Don't give up 'lass', just get their, and start. They say its cheaper to cycle, so go hire yourself a bike lol, (mind you have to get their first.) You have seen how many of our fellow Countrymen and Women have found ways and means of getting across the 'big pond' if that is where your dream is. (Heck just look at the Pilgrim Fathers)

You do not wan't to rely on finding your treasures in charity shops, or at car boot sales. On saying that, mind they are still out their to be found.


Take care Francesca
Unicorn

A p.s. Francesca....Just take a look at Dell....he is an Expert Treasure Hunter....wow. Even HE had to start somewhere .

Sounds like a great idea greenhorngirl! Welcome Aboard!

I have been interested in treasure hunting and recovery work for over 55 years. My first encounter was when my Father and I were out fishing when I was about 13 or so. We had dropped the anchor to fish from our small rowboat. Come time to leave we found that the anchor was hung up on something. I dove down into about 20 feet of water to free the anchor and found it was inside the passageway of a 26 foot cabin cruiser that had been sunk in a storm a few weeks earlier. We raised the boat and used it for several years. The items recovered got me interested in what else was lost when boats sunk in storms and battles. I started diving at my Grandparents home in the Florida Keys around 1958 and have been hooked like a big fish ever since. Even modern wrecks have a story to tell and treasure to recover!

Okay, this be my story.. and I'm sticking to it! I was born and raised in Kentucky but growing up I always dreamed of getting to the coast to serach for treasures and lost shipwrecks that I'd read about or learned of through various media. But twas not to be for this land locked soul. Then life came about and after serving with the US Coast Guard (that did get me to the coast temporarily), graduating college, getting married, having a son (who also shares my love of treasure hunting), working as a cop, getting divorced, moving from state to state. I have finally landed where I've always wanted to be... on the coast in Florida. The opportunities are out there, now its just finding the time. Of course I did some hunting in KY and NY finding old junk items from years past but nothing of great value. But I'm actually not in it to find treasure... mind you that woulkd be nice! But what gave me the bug was the historical aspects of finding something that has been lost long ago. I will hunt anywhere but my passion is in shipwrecks... hence the main reason that I got certified in scuba diving; to be able to dive down and explore these lost shipwrecks and learn of the stories they tell and the secrets they keep!

Hi Unicorn!

That is sound advice indeed thank you! I will look into this - it is always easier to fall into things when you are actually already in the place. An email or phonecall can be so easily ignored!

Francesca
P.S. I'm very glad I have "virtually" met you

White Feather,

This is very interesting and I love the picture! What sort of wreck diving do you do now?

Francesca

1BootySeeker,

Your story is very interesting indeed! Thanks for sharing!

Dell,
Your story is an amazing one to be sure. Thanks for sharing Your life and work are fascinating and something to be admired not just by novices like me!
I have added you on facebook. I hope thats okay! If not feel free to reject me lol
Francesca

Well, Here's my story.
I live on the west coast of florida in a little place called Crystal River. (Home of the manatees)
I still live on the same property my family settled in 1850. I've been interested in shipwrecks since I was a young kid but spent the better part of my life working and searching for the dollar. A few years ago I decided to follow my dreams and search for shipwrecks.(wish I had not waited so long) I met up with a few guys on here Aquanut,Salvor6 & Whitefeather Now I spend all my free time out in the Gulf of mexico searching for wrecks.
Francesca, If this is your dream, Then go after it Don't wait like I did.If your ever in florida look me up and we will go diving.
Jeff Priest

Let me start out by saying that comfortably numb is absolutely correct in his advice to you Francesca. Don’t ever let go of your dreams. It has been my experience that for every door that closes on you, another two will eventually open.

There is opportunity to hunt for the treasure just about everywhere you go on this planet, so start out local and learn to do the research. You will find that most treasure hunting happens in the libraries long before the detector is placed on charge.

My story starts out in the 1960’s in a place called Bar Harbor Maine and a stretch of coast line known as Sandy Point. My Grandmother often told me stories of Pirates along the New England coast. I would spend my summers searching the rocky coastline for pirate caves filled with buried treasure. Of course I never found any pirate treasure, and I know now that it was a ruse to get rid of us kids so the adults could sit on the porch drinking Gin and Tonics.

None the less, I had been bitten by the treasure bug. Unfortunately life took over and by 1976 I was starting a carrier in the United States Air Force. I was able to travel the world and dive in many of the seven seas, yet the dream of finding treasure was fading with each passing year. However, all those boyhood dreams of finding pirate treasure came flooding back in the summer of 1985 when Mel Fisher found the Atocha near Key West Florida. It was then I decided I needed to find myself an assignment in Florida.

Long story short, it took me another 12 years to get an assignment in Florida, and we bought a house in Satellite Beach just south of Cocoa Beach. I bought my first metal detector, and hit the beach every opportunity I had. After I returned from a two year deployment in the second Gulf War, I purchased a 33 foot Chris Craft Corinthian as my dive boat and continued my search for treasure looking for the missing ships of the 1715 fleet.



In 2008 I took a leave of absence from the military, retiring from the Air Force a year and a half later to work as an overseas contractor in Kabul Afghanistan. Basically working three months and getting a month off, I discovered an opportunity for international treasure hunting. Now I had three months a year for full time treasure hunting, and spent much of the next two years exploring and treasure hunting from the ruins of the ancient red city in the Hindu Kush Mountains to the pink sandy beaches of the Bahamas.



Almost two years ago while working in Kabul, and designing this web site in my spare time, I was presented with a similar employment opportunity in Central America. Hmm, let’s see, no suicide bombers, no rocket attacks, no one trying to kill me because I’m an Infidel. So as soon as my contract was up in Afghanistan, I packed my bags and moved to Guatemala. Today Guatemala City is my home and Central America is my treasure hunting playground. I am able to live the dream I had as a young boy searching for pirate treasure and now I am also able to search old Maya ruins and lost ancient cities hidden deep in the jungles.

Hi everyone,

I live in the Bahamas, look forward to interacting with you all.

Already have my Treasure map. just can't find the time to go dig it up!

Hi Andy...Welcome to TW, look forward to reading your posts. I do hope you have a very rich treasure map. Wouldn't it be marvellous if someone who posts here found a 'rich haul' Whispering!... bet if they did, they probably wouldn't tell us eh! Men do like keeping their secrets don't they?

Good to hear from you again Francesca, how are you enjoying all of this awful weather we have been having? Will will soon have to swim down to the shops instead of walking if this rain doesn't stop soon.
If ever you find yourself in Birmingham please contact me and we can meet up for TEA, I emphasize the word tea because I know America is a coffee drinking Nation. and I am sure we won't be able to convert them to tea.

Hope you have started to make some tentative plans for moving on toward your dream goal, I see you have had a couple of offers of help already, so go with it luv. Take care

Unicorn

andywight wrote:
Hi everyone,

I live in the Bahamas, look forward to interacting with you all.

Already have my Treasure map. just can't find the time to go dig it up!



Hi Andy, I.m glad you found us. I've been hoping to get over to the Bahamas, but so far no such luck.. It's really good to hear from you. Keep us posted. How about a few pics? Dell

Unicorn,
If I am every in Birmingham I'd love to meet up and I hate coffee.... lol
I've joined a scuba club near where I live and am doing a bit of research I hope you are well!!
Francesca
x

Tommy,

Your story is fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing with all of us. I look up to you so it certainly gives me a renewed hope for my dreams to read your words of encouragement!
Hope your hunt in Hondouras was fruitful. Please put the updates on facebook too!

Francesca

welcome!

thanks Tim!

Dell Winders wrote:


Hi Andy, I.m glad you found us. I've been hoping to get over to the Bahamas, but so far no such luck.. It's really good to hear from you. Keep us posted. How about a few pics? Dell

Hi Dell,

thanks for the invite, it's been awhile!





Can you update me with your new email, your old one isn't working.