Plunge into Wealth: 11 Stunning Underwater Finds That Amaze & Profit

1. Jamaica's Port Royal

Port Royal: The Lost Pirate Paradise Current Value: Unknown Year Lost: 1692 Year Discovered: N/A (2,000 Residents Remain) Port Royal in Jamaica was once the ultimate pirate sanctuary during the Golden Age of Piracy. This bustling hub drew fearless buccaneers targeting Spanish vessels, mixing vast riches with infamous chaos. Known for extravagant pirate loot and untamed revelry, it became a magnet for Dutch and English pirates ready to squander their gold. In the 1600s, Port Royal pulsed as a vibrant trade center, hosting pirates from as far as Madagascar to revel in their plunder. Its wild spirit and mythic fame cemented it as the core of pirate legend.

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Jamaica's Port Royal Catastrophe struck on June 7, 1692, when a devastating earthquake and monstrous tsunami obliterated Port Royal, dragging much of the city beneath the waves. Later quakes and surges sank even more of it. What survived nature’s wrath was ravaged by fire and a cholera epidemic in 1850. Now, most of Port Royal lies submerged, with just a tiny, fading community left. Its underwater ruins stand as a haunting echo of a once-thriving pirate empire lost to time and disaster.