Lost Loot: 6 Sunken Shipwrecks Teeming with Billions in Treasure Beckon Adventurers

Sunken Ships or Treasure Stash?

During New World exploration, many European countries used ships to import millions of dollars worth of materials, HISTORY reported. Many of these ships did not reach their destination and became a mystery when they sank deep into the ocean. Certain ships used for traveling also suffered the same fate and drowned with precious valuables owned by passengers. Several entrepreneurs and explorers have expressed interest in knowing more about the buried ships of the past. The objective is not only to claim the treasures hidden in these ships but also to unearth stories that drowned with these ships. Here are six sunken ships that are on the radar of explorers.

1. Flor de la Mar

Flor de la Mar was a 400-ton three-mast carrack that sunk in 1511, Heritage Daily reported. Flor de la Mar means "Flower of the Sea". It contained a large cargo of treasure for the king of Portugal. The Portuguese were involved in the conquest of Malacca in 1511. After the last Sultan of Malacca, Mahmud Shah, fled across the Malay Peninsula, the commanders stole all the treasures from his palace and stored them in Flor de la Mar. The ship was sailing along the Sumatran state of Pasé in the Strait of Malacca when it got caught in a storm. Most of the crew perished in that storm. Over the years, many have tried to locate the ship, but have not achieved success. Discovery UK reported. Treasure Hunter, Bob Marx, claimed that he found the ship's wreck site in 1992, but his project got shut down. Eighteen years later, explorer, author, and photographer, Rick Langrehr, found a silver Tanka coin around Diamond Point in northern Sumatra. Despite efforts, the ship was not found in the area.

2. The Merchant Royal

The Merchant Royal, known as the 'El Dorado of the sea'  sank off the coast of Cornwall, on September 23, 1641, with $250 million worth of gold and silver within it, HISTORY reported. The ship was coming back from a successful trade mission to England when the wreck happened. The ship suffered from several leaks and stopped at Cadiz for repairs. The repairs apparently did not work, and while sailing on the coast of Cornwall, more and more water kept entering the ship. Eighteen crew members and the captain were rescued by another ship, and The Merchant Royal went into oblivion. In 2007, an American company claimed that they had found The Merchant Royal in the northeast Atlantic, but the assertion was proven wrong. Explorers are still out in search of the shipwreck.

3. Las Cinque Chagas

Las Cinque Chagas was a Portuguese ship that sailed from Goa to its native country in 1594, Asia Society reported. The ship contained within it a cargo of 3,500,000 Portuguese cruzados, along with 22 treasure chests filled with diamonds, rubies, and pearls. The treasure inside the ship has been estimated to be around $1 billion, by today's standards. The ship was in its final stretch when it was attacked by three British privateer ships — the Mayflower, the Royal Exchange, and the Sampson. The battle lasted for two days and ended when Las Cinque Chagas caught fire and sank off the coast of Portugal’s Azores on July 13, 1594. It is one of the most sought-after wrecks for explorers. Some experts believe the wreck could be as deep as 2,500 meters in the waters. 

4. 1715 Treasure Fleet

In 1715, a hurricane attacked fleets of Spanish ships that had set sail from the waters of the Americas to bring back vast amounts of treasure from the New World, CBS News reported. The treasure contained millions of dollars worth of gold, silver, and gemstones. The fleet of ships was named the 1715 Treasure Fleet, and for hundreds of years, explorers searched through the wreckage on the coast of Florida. In 2024, a group of treasure hunters on a boat called the Lilly May retrieved a total of 214 coins and other artifacts allegedly from the 1715 Treasure Fleet. The team of treasure hunters had been pursuing the fleet for years. In 2015, two teams of treasure hunters got their hands on items like gold and artifacts. There are other parts of the fleet, that remain undiscovered. Other explorers continue to patrol the area to claim treasures from the ships.

5. Nuestra Senora de la Maravillas

In 1656, Nuestra Senora de la Maravillas, also known as 'Lady of Wonders' was headed to Spain when it sunk after losing its bearings, Smithsonian Magazine reported. Maravillas was carrying its silver load and also of Concepcion, another ship. The disaster happened when the ship collided with a reef. Half a billion dollars worth of items was taken from the ship by Spaniards, as soon as it sunk, NY Post reported. But, there is still more treasure and area left to explore. In 2022, the Bahamas Maritime Museum, a privately owned institution got permission to scientifically survey the shipwreck. 

6. RMS Republic

Three years before Titanic sank, another White Star Line passenger liner suffered its fate on January 24, 1909, RMS Republic reported. Just like Titanic, RMS Republic was also considered unsinkable and carried over 1,500 passengers. The passengers were rescued in time because the crew used a wireless telegraph to call for help. The baggage and cargo from the ship could not be saved. It has been rumored that items worth $70 million sunk with that ship. The ship met its fate in the most treacherous part of the North Atlantic, where explorers continued to gather in hopes of stumbling upon the ship.