From the systematic treasure fleets of the Spanish Empire to modern deep-sea salvage operations, Professor Thatch navigates the treacherous waters of underwater archaeology and treasure hunting. This episode chronicles the rise and fall of maritime fortunes, from the silver-laden galleons that funded empires to contemporary legal battles over recovered artifacts. Through stories of the 1715 Spanish fleet disaster, Mel Fisher's obsessive quest for the Atocha, and the ongoing controversies surrounding the Titanic, we explore how advancing technology has revolutionized treasure hunting while creating new ethical dilemmas about who owns the past and how we should balance commercial interests with cultural heritage preservation.

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