Growing up on Cape Cod, Barry Clifford heard stories about the Whydah. In 1982 he and a crew of experienced divers set out to find the ship.

His search wasn’t easy. Shifting sands had covered the ship. On July 20, 1984, a diver surfaced with exciting news: He had found three cannons. Another diver retrieved a cannonball and a coin dated 1688. They had found the remains of the Whydah!

The ship is the first authenticated pirate wreck ever found. Since 1984 Clifford has retrieved more than 100,000 objects from the Whydah, including silver coins, gold bars, rare jewelry from Africa, and everyday items—plates, clothing, and buttons—used by pirates. He continues to hunt. “I believe with all my heart,” says Clifford, “that most of the treasure is still out there.” Discover more about the Whydah.

A thick crust of sand and eroded iron covers items retrieved from the wreck site. Barry Clifford’s son, Brandon, carefully chips away the material. Photograph by Richard T. Nowitz