Deep Sea Sunken Treasures

Hidden below thousands of feet of water at the bottom of the ocean is sunken treasure. Galleons of the Spanish Empire carrying gold, silver and jewels from the New World, steamships transporting gold from the California gold rush and many other vessels sank with unimaginable fortunes onboard. Modern-day treasure hunters seek sunken treasures hidden on the sea floor.

This talk will delve into several of the most famous wrecks and treasure recoveries. Learn the history behind each treasure, the explorers who risk everything and the technologies to find and recover millions of dollars of gold, silver and gems from the bottom of the ocean.

Peter Ranelli, Ph.D., has more than 40 years of experience in oceanography and meteorology. He completed a 25-year career in the U.S. Navy, specializing in operational oceanography and meteorology, retiring with the rank of captain. He has extensive experience in underwater systems including autonomous robotic vehicles, underwater acoustics as applied to anti-submarine warfare and communications, physical oceanography and meteorology, oceanographic instrumentation and operational environmental support. He served as the battle group oceanographer for the USS New Jersey (BB-62), the fleet oceanographer for the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea and deputy director of ocean and atmospheric sciences at the Naval Research Laboratory. After leaving the Navy, he was the head of applied research at the NATO Undersea Research Centre in Italy. Peter has a master's degree with distinction in meteorology and oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School and was awarded a secretary of the Navy fellowship to earn a Ph.D. in oceanography from Dartmouth College.