In 1654, Padre Diego Rivadeneira sets out for Spain from Peru in a small armada led by the immense galleon "La Capitana", "Queen of the South Sea", carrying ten million pesos in silver coin and bullion. Late one night, off the coast of Ecuador, the "Capitana" hits a reef and begins to sink. Abroad his own ship, Padre Rivadeneira watches in horror.
A year later, still attempting to travel to Spain, the padre's ship, in a freak collision, is lost on the wild shoals of Los Mimbres, Bahamas. Lost are also 600 people and five million pesos in treasure. Unable to swim, the padre clings for his life to a floating hatch cover. He is one of only forty-five survivors.
After more trials and tribulations, Padre Diego finally has Cadiz in sight when the English Fleet attacks. His ship explodes, and he finds himself in the cold Atlantic Ocean. He is rescued but taken prisoner.
Three hundred years after these events, Dave Horner discovered Padre Diego Rivadeneira's diary while in Seville, Spain. In 1996 and 1997, Horner and his colleagues discovered and salvaged the much sought-after treasure of the "Capitana". Among the artifacts recovered were gold, silver bars and coins, bronze cannon balls, pottery and various items of worked silver.
This book is the authentic and dramatic retelling of the padre's extraordinary story as well as the fascinating account of the modern-day exploration of the shipwreck sites.
