The waters surrounding Florida have long been known as a graveyard for ships. From Spanish galleons loaded with treasure to forgotten merchant vessels swallowed by storms, the ocean holds stories of adventure, tragedy, and mystery—many still waiting to be discovered. As a writer, I can’t help but be drawn to these lost histories, imagining the lives of those aboard and the secrets resting beneath the waves.
Florida’s Shipwreck Coast: A Legacy of Lost Ships
Florida’s coastline is home to more than 1,000 documented shipwrecks, with many more still undiscovered. The convergence of trade routes, shifting sands, hurricanes, and hidden reefs made these waters treacherous for centuries. Some of the most famous wrecks include:
The 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet
In July 1715, a fleet of eleven Spanish ships carrying gold, silver, and jewels from the New World set sail for Spain. They never arrived. A violent hurricane slammed into the fleet off Florida’s east coast, sinking all but one ship. The wreckage and its treasure were scattered along what is now known as the Treasure Coast, named for the gold and silver coins that still occasionally wash ashore. Salvagers have recovered millions in lost riches, but some of the treasure remains missing—buried beneath shifting sands or hidden in the depths.
The SS Tarpon: The Ghost of the Gulf
The SS Tarpon was a steamship that regularly ran cargo between Florida and Alabama in the early 1900s. But in 1937, a strong storm caused the ship to take on water and sink near Panama City. The wreck now sits in the Gulf of Mexico as an artificial reef, its remains covered in coral and marine life. Some divers have claimed to feel an eerie presence near the wreck, and fishermen tell stories of strange disturbances in the water.
The Urca de Lima: Florida’s First Underwater Preserve
One of the few ships from the 1715 Spanish fleet that wasn’t fully lost to the waves, Urca de Lima ran aground in a storm but was salvaged for its treasure before it could sink completely. Today, it rests near Fort Pierce as Florida’s first underwater archaeological preserve, open for divers to explore. It’s a rare chance to see history up close, where remnants of a bygone era remain just beneath the surface.
Shipwrecks as Storytelling Inspiration
What draws me most to these shipwrecks isn’t just the lost treasure—it’s the people behind them. Every wreck was once a bustling ship, filled with sailors, merchants, and passengers, all with their own dreams, fears, and untold stories. Imagine:
A lone survivor washed ashore, carrying a secret no one was meant to know.
A modern-day diver finding something in a shipwreck that was never supposed to resurface.
A hurricane revealing a long-buried wreck, rewriting history in the process.
History and fiction intertwine in fascinating ways, and shipwrecks offer the perfect blend of mystery, adventure, and loss—all themes that draw readers in.
A Future Story on the Horizon?
I’ve long been fascinated by the idea of a shipwreck mystery. A lost logbook, a hidden artifact, or a ghostly presence tied to a wreck—these are the kinds of elements that could form the backbone of a novel or short story. Perhaps there’s a tale waiting to be written about a wreck rediscovered after a storm, or a character obsessed with finding one particular lost ship.
Florida’s shipwrecks hold more than just gold and artifacts—they hold stories. And sometimes, stories are the greatest treasures of all.
If you’re ever walking Florida’s beaches after a storm, keep your eyes open. You never know what the sea might return.