Because of the existence of a U.S. security-guarded 

 guided-missile base at Turks island, they found it neces- 

 sary to change their seat of operations to the airport on 

 nearby South Caicos island, a part of the Turks island 

 group. From there, a few days later, the men took off in the 

 Widgeon to survey the Silver banks. While Leonard flew 

 the ship, Glenn, the map expert, was to compare the topog- 

 raphy of the land and water below with the charts and 

 drawings which we had been using. As soon as they were 

 over the shoals, Ed was to make pictures of the area. 



They covered the banks thoroughly. As they flew over 

 the miles of scattered reefs, which looked like icebergs 

 floating in the blue seas beneath them, they were able to 

 locate, in the thickened section on the north edge of the 

 banks, the exact contours of the reefs shown on the early 

 charts, including the open channel to the west of the wreck 

 site and the two half moons to the east. The two yellow 

 buoys which we had left to mark the ballast and the old 

 anchor were clearly in evidence. In the center of the open 

 water inside the reefs could be seen the buoy which marked 

 the mooring; we had left. 



They took a series of pictures in black and white, some 

 color stills, and some with the motion picture camera be- 

 fore returning to Caicos to prepare Sea Diver for another 

 foray upon this spot, which they now felt certain contained 

 the remains of the wrecked treasure ship. 



Leonard returned to Nassau with the Widgeon that 

 same day. The following morning Sea Diver headed for 

 Turks island to pick up the mail, and then, just before sun- 

 set, left that anchorage for the Silver shoals. 



When they spotted the white line of breakers which 

 marked the northern edge of the shoals, they managed to 

 guide Sea Diver on a path through them to the south side 

 of the reefs. They turned east here, and worked their way 

 along between the coral heads as they searched for the dry 



The Silver Shoals 291 



