The Centuries-Long Search for Sunken Treasure

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For 500 years, explorers and marine archeologists have exploited the latest technologies to reach new depths, often at great risk to themselves

Dec 16, 2014 | |1531

DIVING BELL DEBUTS 1620

FIRST SUBMARINE BUILT 1691

BARRELS DELIVER OXYGEN 1715

SUIT SUFFERS FLAWS 1788

DIVING BELL GETS UPGRADE 1864

STEEL LUNG INSPIRES SCUBA 1870s

REBREATHER RECYCLES AIR 1900

NAVY BUILDS SUBMARINE 1919

WAR SPURS SONAR 1934

EXPLORERS SINK IN STEEL BALL 1943

DIVERS BREATHE DEEPLY 1955

SEARCH FOR METALS FINDS PLATES 1960

HUMANS REACH MAXIMUM DEPTH 1960s

SCIENTISTS DEPLOY ROBOTS 1970s

MACHINES GO IT ALONE 1980

VIDEO EMERGES FROM BELOW 2014

DIVERS FIND NEW FLEXIBILITY

For a blog and photographs from the Antikythera expedition, go to