Kingston Images

To find a piece of history, sometimes you have to make history first. Dr. Frederick "Fritz" Hanselmann moves methodically across the seafloor of Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz bay, wielding a revolutionary handheld underwater magnetometer designed specifically for the Lost Ships of Cortés project by Marine Magnetics. This groundbreaking technology—created out of necessity when conventional metal detectors proved ineffective against the highly ferrous local sand—represents a major advancement for underwater archaeology. As Dr. Chris Horrell works in the foreground maintaining the measurement line that ensures systematic coverage, Hanselmann's careful scanning might reveal the first conclusive evidence of Hernán Cortés' deliberately scuttled fleet from 1519, a pivotal moment when the ambitious conquistador eliminated his men's means of retreat before their march inland to confront the Aztec Empire. Five centuries later, these modern pioneers are writing a new chapter in archaeological methodology while searching for tangible connections to a world-changing historical event.