Kingston Images

This is where the science of discovering a fleet of 500-year-old shipwrecks begins. The Lost Ships of Cortés project team deploys sophisticated Marine Magnetics equipment from their modified fishing panga—a technological contrast that bridges centuries. The dual Sea Spy magnetometers being prepared can detect even the smallest pieces of ferrous material, such as iron nails from deteriorated wooden hulls, buried beneath layers of sand. Ilya Inov, seen here deploying a base magnetometer, will collect ambient magnetic field readings that will be subtracted from survey data to isolate archaeological anomalies. This methodical process created the most comprehensive underwater magnetic survey ever conducted in these waters, yielding numerous promising targets that may finally reveal the location of Cortés' deliberately scuttled fleet.