Banner reef, scarred with the wreckage of many a ship 

 headed across the Caribbean. 



But, fortunately, though we fought a losing battle 

 against this treasure-hunting disease, we built up a sec- 

 ondary infection — a consuming interest in the past history 

 of this part of the New World. The ensuing years found 

 us spending an increasing amount of time poring over old 

 charts, government records and accounts of the adven- 

 turers of those early days. 



Our awakened curiosity led us to ponder many ques- 

 tions. Just where did Columbus actually first set foot on 

 American soil? Which path did he choose to sail the Santa 

 Maria through the Bahamas before that ill-fated ship met 

 her doom on a reef oflF the north coast of Hispaniola? 

 Could we possibly locate the wreckage of the famous 

 flagship? Would there be any evidence of it still in exist- 

 ence today? 



We read about the notorious city of Port Royal, 

 Jamaica, which sank beneath the sea in an earthquake 

 one summer's day in 1692. From all we could gather, no 

 real attempt had ever been made to salvage it. Eventu- 

 ally we were to feel compelled to explore these long-lost 

 ruins. The urge was irresistible. 



Thus it was that when we headed north in the sum- 

 mer of 1951 from our first adventure in the Florida keys, 

 loaded with cannon balls, copper pans and twisted pieces 

 of ship's rigging, we could hardly wait for the coming 

 year, when we planned to return for further search in that 

 graveyard of early ships. 



Ed set the date for the end of the following January. 

 By then the hurricane season, which spans a period from 

 July through November, would be well over; his business 

 would be sufficiently under control so that he could leave 

 it for several months; and he would have had time to 



28 Sea Diver 



