Dive New Zealand – June 20 2004

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As at 20/06/2004 11:45pm NZT
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Divers locate pirate Morgan's lost ship

An international dive team discovered the remains of Welshman Captain Henry Morgan's lost frigate, HMS Oxford, off the coast of Haiti. Oxford sank in 1669 as the result of an explosion believed to have been ignited by a celebratory pig roast. Rick Haupt and Bruce Leeming of Ocean Discovery Network led the team that discovered HMS Oxford, lying in 12 feet of water. The team found another of Morgan's ships, the Jamaica Merchant, in 1999 and this led them to search for Oxford. A full archaeological survey of the site is due to take place, while Ocean Discovery Network plans to lobby the United Nations to declare the wreck a World Heritage Site. Programme producer, Paul Calverley, said, 'The discovery of HMS Oxford is an event of real historical significance, particularly to the Caribbean. It's also one of the greatest finds a diver could have. 'We don't expect to find any treasure but there are a large number of artifacts such as cannons, drawer handles, muskets, musket balls and powder barrels.'

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