Kim Fisher - Discovered the Spanish Galleon Atocha with his father Mel Fisher

Celebrity Interviews with Joey Mitchell

Kim Fisher's dad, Mel Fisher who discovered one of the richest treasure troves ever found was an Indiana-born former chicken farmer who eventually moved to California. He opened the first diving shop in the state, it was called "See Da Sea". In 1953, he married Dolores (Deo) Horton who became his business partner. She was one of the first women to learn how to dive and set a women's record by staying underwater for 50 hours. Mel and Deo had five children: sons Terry, Dirk, Kim and Kane, and daughter Taffi. On July 20, 1975 Mel's oldest son Dirk, his wife Angel, and diver Rick Gage died after their boat sank due to bilge pump failure during their quest for treasure.[1] Mel ventured through decades treasure hunting in the Florida Keys with the motto Today's the Day.

Fisher found the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha. He discovered silver bars from the wreck in 1973, and in 1975, Dirk found five bronze cannons whose markings would prove to be that of the Atocha. Only days later, Dirk, Angel, and Rick Gage, were killed. The estimated $450 million cache recovered, known as "The Atocha Motherlode," included 40 tons of gold and silver; there were some 114,000 of the Spanish silver coins known as "pieces of eight",gold coins, Columbian Emeralds, gold and silver artifacts, and 1000 silver ingots.

Large as it was, this was only roughly half of the treasure that went down with the Atocha. The stern castleof the ship holding more gold and Muzo emeralds has not been found as of August 2017. Also still missing are 300 silver bars and 8 bronze cannons, among other things. It was one of the biggest thrills of my radio career to meet Mel's son, Kim Fisher, who has been on the treasure hunt since the very beginning. He brought actual Gold bars and jewelry from the Atocha into the studio and let us hold it in our unworthy hands. Take a trip thru history with us as we explore the sunken ship, the Atocha.