Shipping riches of gold, silver, and exotic resources from the New World across the Atlantic was often dangerous for Spanish sailing fleets centuries ago: especially during hurricane season.

In July of 1733 the New Spain fleet, made up of four armed galleons and eighteen merchant ships packed full of New World goods, left Havana on a course to Spain.

With little warning a hurricane smashed into the fleet, nearly destroying every ship and scattering them over 80 miles along the Florida Keys. Rescue ships were dispatched to pick up the survivors and salvage what they could.

Throughout the 1960s most of the wrecks were relocated by modern divers. Artifacts including cannons and anchors were raised.

In 2004- ironically a very active hurricane season - state archaeologists surveyed and mapped 13 of the shipwrecks to create the 1733 Spanish Galleon Trail that’s open to the diving public.

Written, narrated, and produced by the University of West Florida, the Florida Public Archaeology Network, and WUWF Public Media.