Pirate treasures

[mahjadive]

Hello everyone..

I have a question?????? taa daa...

if you are in an expedition in the caribbean. if you come across some old spanish Gallions, and buchaneer ships. Do you have to reported to the goverment? does anyone know if there is a reward, or can we keep the booty???

since last year's hurricane in Costa Maya Mexico, it affected Chinchorro banks horribly, that place is known for the pirate ships which are sunk there, and for some of the spanish gallions which are still there. We have metal detector's but I am not aware of the rules of discovery? does anyone??
thanks for your help in advance...

JM:dork

 

[SteveAD]

It's always nice to dream.

 

[james croft]

Don't laugh ! It could happen. I found a bandana diving at a rope swing last week that had skull and crossbones on it. Pirates seem to be everywhere.
One of the scurvy dogs even lost his RayBan Predators. And I thought they wore an eye patch.
I made a claim on them in Admiralty Court in Norfolk. We will see how that works out.

 

[Standingbear56]

Rule # 1 What would Mr. Teach do?
Rule # 2 Yes you would have to report your find to the state/county where you find it. This way you can do all they work and they make most of the profit.
Rule # 3 When in conflict with Rule # 2, refer to Rule # 1.

Seriously though, you would need to check with state/local rules to find out what you must do.

Safe Diving,
George

 

[diversteve]

Some basics:

A state's Territorial Sea extends up to 12 nautical miles (22 km) from its baseline. If this would overlap with another state's territorial sea, the border is taken as the median point between the states' baselines, unless the states in question agree otherwise. A state can also choose to claim a smaller territorial sea.

State in this instance also refers to country. Mexico is a party to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and thus claims 12NM off it's shoreline. This is sovereign territory of the country of Mexico. They own anything found in it.

Then there's the Contiguous Zone:

The contiguous zone is a band of water extending from the outer edge of the territorial sea to up to 24 nautical miles (44 km) from the baseline, within which a state can exert limited control for the purpose of preventing or punishing "infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea".

Chinchorro Banks is 19NM from Mahuhaul so likely falls within this range. Unless there's a closer point of Mexican land within 12NM in which case it's Mexican sovereign territory.

But this last zone likely limits your options:

An exclusive Economic Zone extends for 200 nautical miles (370 km) beyond the baselines of the territorial sea, thus it includes the territorial sea and its contiguous zone.[3] A coastal nation has control of all economic resources within its exclusive economic zone, including fishing, mining, oil exploration, and any pollution of those resources.

If you found anything, the govt. of Mexico might categorize it as an "economic resource" But I'm no expert. If you do find anything, I would consult with a maritime lawyer in the country whose waters it was found - as I'm sure that there's a whole lot of other rules regarding shipwrecks, declarations of loss, salvage right and rights of ownership that I'm totally oblivious to.

pretty much what SteveAD said...:depressed:

 

[CheddarChick]

huh??

 

[Jim Lapenta]

My feeling is this as far as the op's question goes. If it came off a spanish galleon or pirate ship it was stolen off of somebody else in the first place. Therefore finders keepers. Depending on how big of a haul it is. If it's a couple coins easy enough to mix em in with a box of souvenier pirate coins and take em home. A gold chain? Hang a hubcap from a 57 chevy on it, pull your pants down around the crack of your butt, putt your hat on crooked and, say whasup alot. You'll get right through. If it's a gold bar then you need to hide it in a bc pocket, make sure it's your bc, find the nearest ups store, box it up and send it home. If it's a big haul then it's time to get the gps coordinates, go back and rent your own boat, and then figure out how to get it back home. All countries will try to claim anything you work for. Figuring out how to keep what you found, and get away with it is very tough. It is not fair but that's the way governments work. They make Blackbeard and all the rest look like amateurs.

 

[Standingbear56]

My feeling is this as far as the op's question goes. If it came off a spanish galleon or pirate ship it was stolen off of somebody else in the first place. Therefore finders keepers. Depending on how big of a haul it is. If it's a couple coins easy enough to mix em in with a box of souvenier pirate coins and take em home. A gold chain? Hang a hubcap from a 57 chevy on it, pull your pants down around the crack of your butt, putt your hat on crooked and, say whasup alot. You'll get right through. If it's a gold bar then you need to hide it in a bc pocket, make sure it's your bc, find the nearest ups store, box it up and send it home. If it's a big haul then it's time to get the gps coordinates, go back and rent your own boat, and then figure out how to get it back home. All countries will try to claim anything you work for. Figuring out how to keep what you found, and get away with it is very tough. It is not fair but that's the way governments work. They make Blackbeard and all the rest look like amateurs.

Even Blackbeard was done in by a politician overstepping his boundaries for a personal vendetta.

 

[vtminter]

I agree with JimLap. If there aren't any laws that say it is yours if you find it. Figure out how to get it home.

And keep your mouth shut about it until it's out of your hands.

 

[DeputyDan]

Even Blackbeard was done in by a politician overstepping his boundaries for a personal vendetta.

A wag from Virginia no less !!!