San Pedro

A diver viewing a pole-like object lying in the sand on the seafloor — Diver viewing the historic anchor on the 1733 shipwreck *San Pedro*. Photo: Matt Lawrence/NOAA

San Pedro, a member of the 1733 Spanish treasure fleet, was caught in a hurricane in the Straits of Florida and sank in 18 feet of water 1 mile south of Indian Key. San Pedro is the oldest shipwreck on the Shipwreck Trail with the mystique of a Spanish treasure shipwreck to draw divers and snorkelers alike.

Diver hovering over flattened wreckage on a sandy bottom — A diver hovering over the wreckage of *San Pedro*. Photo: Matt Lawrence/NOAA

History

The 287-ton Dutch-built vessel San Pedro and 21 other Spanish ships under the command of Rodrigo de Torres left Havana, Cuba, on Friday, July 13, 1733, bound for Spain. San Pedro carried 16,000 pesos in Mexican silver and numerous crates of Chinese porcelain. Upon entering the Straits of Florida, an abrupt wind change signaled to the mariners that a hurricane approached. The Spanish fleet, caught off the Florida Keys, was ordered back to Havana by their Captain, but it was too late. The storm intensified and scattered, sank, or swamped most of the fleet.

The wreck of San Pedro was found in the 1960s in Hawk Channel. In the subsequent years, the site was heavily salvaged by treasure hunters before it was protected by state and federal laws. Silver coins dating between 1731 and 1733 were recovered from the pile of ballast along with numerous anchors and cannons. Elements of the ship's rigging and hardware, as well as remnants of its cargo, were also unearthed and removed.

Large mound of round stones covered in sea life — A pile of large smooth stones were used to ballast this wooden sailing ship. Photo: Matt Lawrence/NOAA

Archaeology

The large pile of ballast, dense stones from European river beds, typically stacked in lower holds of sailing ships to increase their stability, marks the spot where the San Pedro went down. Mixed in with the ballast are flat, red ladrillo bricks from the ship's galley.

In 1989, this site became a State of Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve. Replica cannons, an anchor from another 1733 shipwreck site, and a bronze plaque were placed on the site to enhance its interpretation.

Diver reading the plaque on the <em>San Pedro</em> archaeological preserve — A diver reading a plaque mounted on a concrete base resting on the sand bottom near the *San Pedro* shipwreck site. Photo: Matt Lawrence/NOAA

Interactive 3D Model

The image below activates a 3D model created using multi-image photogrammetry. Click the image to load the model, and then click, hold, and adjust your mouse to view the model from different angles.

The photogrammetric model images were collected in June 2019 by scientific divers from Indiana University.

Learn more about Indiana University's partnership with NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries in this webstory.

Site Map

Archaeological drawing of the shipwreck — *San Pedro* Site Map. Credit: Indiana University

Buoy Map

A map of a shipwreck with buoys nearby. — Image: NOAA