Mar 14, 2008 8:41 pm US/Eastern
High Tech Explorers Will Search The Sea For Loot
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Webber's team plans on using these U.S. Navy propulsion boots on both their feet to help move them underwater.
CBS
It sounds like something out of "Pirates of the Caribbean," jewels, and gold hidden away deep under water. And in just a few days one man is taking a crew to go look for the sunken treasure. They will use some hi-tech equipment to find their loot.
This ship is extraordinary, fascinating, with high tech devices on board that will hopefully help this crew find the sunken treasure.
Sea Explorer Burt Webber is the director of operations on the "Ocean Lady," a 128-foot exploration boat docked along the Miami River. Webber and his crew, will use it to hopefully find a valuable pirate ship.
"Realistically, what could be on board the vessel could be a $150 million dollars," said Webber.
Webber believes the ship called "The English Cossair" recovered a treasure on board "The Concepsion" in the 1600s, off the coast of the Dominican Republic at the south reef. It sank and they believe the treasure is still on board, deep in the water. His divers will wear US Navy jet propulsion boots.
"They attached twin jets, both left and right leg, to the calf of the divers leg," said Webber. "Battery pack is worn on the mid section and controlled and once he turns this one and achieves the designated speed he wants, now he has the propulsion and he conserves his air."
The crew also has a hydraulic crane that is special for reef boats, equipped with a GPS, radio communications, and depth recording. The metal detector will be used to detect any jewels, gold or silver.
Private donors are funding the expedition. If modern day pirates of the Caribbean try to steal the high tech equipment, they crew has a high powered answer: M-16s.
"Totally for defense purpose," said Webber. "These are locked up at all time and only accessed in an emergency.
Webber hopes to find the sunken treasure with the help of technology.
"As one says, you look for needle in the hey stack," explained Webber. "That's a tough task but we got the equipment to find the needle."
The ship is scheduled to leave within a week and it could be out in the water by the Dominican Republic for 5 months.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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