Golden discovery in Sagres waters
We don’t talk enough about the wonderful diving opportunities that the Algarve coast has to offer diving enthusiasts, and today we’ll talk about one incredible golden discovery that some professional divers made off the coast of Sagres.
Divers from the Divers Cape centre in Sagres managed to trace the remains of a wreck that they believe to be the 17th century boat of Pedro Diaz. They also say that this wreck was varying gold when it was shipwrecked in the port of Baleeira, in 1608.
The divers were assisted by Spanish archaeologists who came with a bunch of specialist equipment, and together they were able to confirm the presence of large ancient oak fragment and metal bolts on the sea floor, thus supporting the idea that there are indeed the remains of Pedro Diaz’s craft.
It should be noted that the discovery correlates with archives that offer details related to the sinking of boats, Spanish or otherwise, over many centuries in or near Baleeira.
The boat’s name is unknown, but it is known to have been carrying gold and other precious metals as contraband.
Over the years, different gold objects washed ashore on the beach in the area near Baleeira, for instance in 1617, three gold bars were found, and then in 1625 another piece of gold was discovered.
The remains lie in sand at a depth of twelve meters, and it is feasible that other gold relics might be buried there, possibly further down.
The discovery has been reported to the proper authorities and the divers are awaiting confirmation of the identity of the find.
Obviously this isn’t the type of thing that you’ll be engaging in while on your trip to the region, but it does help to better accentuate that with the help of some Algarve car hire services, you can dive all around the coast at your will.
