Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail

Recently, the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research's underwater staff spent two days at Ichetucknee Springs State Park collecting data on how river erosion is affecting archaeological material preserved in the riverbank.

Check out these photos of the team in action:
1) Clear water ready for science
2) A commute via canoe
3) Melissa Price surveying the site

Thank you Scuba Diving Magazine readers for voting for Florida and the Florida Keys as some of the top destinations for Wreck Diving!

Although the twenty unique wrecks on the Florida Panhandle Trail weren't specifically mentioned, I'm sure they'll top the list next year.

Check out the world's best destinations for wreck diving here: https://www.scubadiving.com/best-destinations-wreck-diving

The Best Destinations for Wreck Diving Exploring old sunken vessels is like walking through the pages of history. Each wreck has its own story to tell, and these are some of the most captivating ones.

Fifteen thousand years ago, the seas were 300 feet lower than they are today the coastlines reached out miles beyond where they are now. Archaeologists in Florida are making strides in exploring these places that were once the home of humans.

This "submerged landscape archaeology" takes the techniques of traditional archaeology and practices them at the bottom of lakes, rivers, and oceans. It is a growing method of learning about the past on our planet and Florida is proud to help lead the way in the field.

Archaeologists dive into Florida’s past and find lessons on adapting to future sea rise The stories that archaeologists unearth from the depths offer lessons for modern Floridians who are now facing sea level rise once again.

There's always something archaeologically interesting happening in America's oldest city, St. Augustine.

Road crews earlier this week uncovered an 1800s shipwreck while expanding drainage line from downtown.

Scroll through the pictures in this article to see how Florida's maritime archaeologists are working hard to explore this incredibly well-preserved site.

‘An incredible find’: 1800s shipwreck unearthed in Florida during road project Construction crews in Florida unearthed a shipwreck from the 19th century while working on a road project in downtown St. Augustine last week.

Recently Diving Magazine named the Florida Keys as one of the world's best spots for underwater macro photography!

If you have any big ideas about taking pictures of tiny creatures, come explore Florida!

https://www.scubadiving.com/tiny-yet-stunning-best-destinations-dive-macro-life

Tiny Yet Stunning: Best Destinations to Dive for Macro Life Where to be wowed by all things Lilliputian

Want to learn more about artifacts recovered from the Spanish Plate Fleet Wrecks?

Check out our interactive website, which features 3D models of select artifacts: https://floridahistoryin3d.com/.

Have you seen the incredible new 3D model of the Titanic created by Magellan Ltd. and Atlantic Productions?

"The expedition deployed two submersibles, named Romeo and Juliet, some 2.3 miles below the surface to map every millimeter of the wreck site. It generated an unprecedented 16 terabytes of data and more than 715,000 still images and 4k video footage."

Read more about it here: https://www.npr.org/2023/05/20/1177056829/titanic-scan

A remarkable new view of the Titanic shipwreck is here, thanks to deep-sea mappers The Titanic wreck is hard to reach and harder to capture, with most images showing just a section at a time. The first full-sized digital scan offers what experts call a game-changing view.

Check out this article about Dry Tortugas National Park, home to Fort Jefferson and many amazing recreational opportunities, including swimming, diving, sightseeing, and birding: https://www.travelandleisure.com/dry-tortugas-national-park-guide-7110410.

(Photos from the Dale McDonald Collection, 1985, courtesy State Archives of Florida)

Some news from our partners on the east coast. Follow the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum for the latest news on the shipwreck discovered in Daytona Beach Shores after recent storms.

Check out this short article from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) -- "6 Surprising Shipwreck Facts," https://www.noaa.gov/stories/6-surprising-shipwreck-facts.

6 surprising shipwreck facts Words like “eerie,” “ghostly” and “haunting” may come to mind when you think of shipwrecks. In addition to these spooky qualities, shipwrecks can also have a big impact on ocean science. Here are six ways how.

It’s wonderful that the Florida Panhandle is getting recognition for its artificial reefs, some of which are part of the Panhandle Shipwreck Trail. Check out this month’s Scuba Diving Magazine to read more: https://tinyurl.com/3rk5uh8j

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth during the Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day festival this past weekend in Destin. It was great to talk all things Shipwreck Trail and underwater archaeology!