By the time that first expedition was over, 

 Ed and I were confirmed divers and treasure seekers. We 

 had been afflicted with a contagion which was to lead us 

 on strange and unexpected adventures. Following its on- 

 set we found ourselves unable to resist tales of treasure- 

 laden ships lying upon the ocean floor, their contents still 

 untouched. We felt sure that they only awaited our com- 

 ing to surrender vast quantities of riches. 



This virtually inescapable malady was to lead us to 

 risk our boats and equipment many times, and even our 

 lives, in treacherous reef-strewn waters, oftentimes far 

 from sight of land. Before the disease had run its course, 

 we had visited every part of the far-flung Bahamas, had fol- 

 lowed the lure of sunken treasure clear to the Silver shoals, 

 a forty-mile-square area of scattered reefs lying between 

 the remote Tm"ks islands and Hispaniola, shunned by every 

 mariner since the time of Columbus. And off the southern 

 shores of Jamaica we found ourselves battling the wind 

 and tides which constantly assault the long, lean line of 



The Florida Keys 27 



