Burt Webber - Treasure Hunter
Spanish galleon
Discovering the legendary Spanish Galleon “Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion” that sank in 1641 off of the Dominican Republic, world renowned treasure hunter Burt Webber was the first to see the remains of the treasure galleon in more than three centuries. Webber’s expedition produced a tremendous yield of sunken treasure with over 60,000 silver coins, bullion, gold chains and priceless artifacts, some of which are permanently exhibited in the national museums in Santo Domingo. Beyond the obvious thrill and achievement of discovery, Webber’s search and recovery operations revolutionized historic shipwreck exploration and salvage by introducing sophisticated new underwater magnetometer systems to marine archaeology, and he gained a reputation as a meticulous researcher. Webber has been credited with locating numerous other wrecks and has been instrumental in research related to Captain William Kidd’s ship and Henry Morgan’s legendary H.M.S. Oxford.
Today, Burt Webber, through his company Hispaniola Ventures and its joint venture partner, Marine Exploration, Inc. has again assembled a team of expert divers who will employ the most high-tech cesium magnetometers and other specialized equipment to salvage more sunken treasure under their exclusive joint venture agreement.
Burt Webber's Experiences
Mr. Webber's experiences include:
- Deep Blue Marine, Inc., a treasure hunting company based in Key West, FL
- Los Cayos, LLC, a California Marine survey entity
- Geometrics, Inc.,- redesigning the G-882 Cesium marine magnetometer for diver operated applications
- Consultant to Operation Abrojos, Inc. in the design, technical layout, equipment and machinery selections for the 110 ft. exploration/salvage vessel “New World Legacy”
- Marine survey consultant to Maritime Artifacts, Inc., a treasure hunting organization
- Marketing consultant and holder of national/international marketing exclusivity with the Dominican Republic Submarine Archaeological Recovery Commission
- Guest Lecturer for Holland-America Cruise Lines, speaking on the subject of the Spanish Plate Fleets and the discovery of the “N.S. Concepcion” shipwreck
- Expedition consultant to Capt. Tracy Bowden’s entity, Tesoros del Caribe
- Liaison between Indiana University and Dominican Republic Submarine
- Archaeological Recovery Commission
- Liaison between Palm Beach Maritime Museum and Dominican Republic Submarine Archaeological Recovery Commission
- Co-founder establishing Tropic Signs, Inc., an offshore Dominican Republic free-zone entity
- Planning and coordination for Oceanex, Inc. as a guest of CaribSub C por A, a Havana, Cuba based marine exploration and salvage company
- Operations Director for specialized group of scientists headed by Dr. William Ryan from Columbia University’s LDGO facility on the Hudson River
- Director of planning and field operations for joint venture between Baywater, Ltd. and Sub-Sea Ventures, Inc.
- Director of planning and field operations for “Operation Saona”
- Co-founder and President of Seaquest International, Inc.
- General Partner and Expedition Director for Operation Phips, L.P.
- Director of Marine Survey Operations for Continental Exploration Corporation
- Director of Planning and Coordination, Webber and Associates
- Conducted marine magnetometer survey off Cedar Keys, FL for Arthur McKee, Jr.
- Director of Research and Planning for Marine Archaeological Enterprises, Inc.
- Organized and directed a specialized research program in the General Archives of the Indies, Seville, Spain and the Naval Museum in Madrid, Spain
- Founded M.A.R.C., Ltd. (Marine Archaeological Research Corporation) Port Antonio, Jamaica
Served as Chief Diver for “Expedition Cannon” directed by Arthur McKee, Jr. aboard the 110 foot “M/V Rosalie” - Outfitted the 60 foot harbor tug “Joan” to make a five day voyage from Miami, FL to Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island
- Served as diver, crewman and interlocutor for Captain Leo Barker’s Operation Alligator Reef aboard the 80 foot “M/V Norma
- Served as Chief Diver under the direction of Fred Dickson, Jr. of Ocean City, NJ for Expedition Bahama aboard the 53 foot “M/V Pisces”
- Shipwreck hunting expedition in Bahamian waters aboard the 53 foot “M/V Pisces” owned by Gordon S. Patton of Ocean City, MD
- Served as Chief Diver in charge of excavation operations for Expedition Caribbean under the direction of Arthur McKee, Jr., Plantation Key, FL aboard the 136 foot “M/V El Amigo”
- One of the four-man Reading, PA Civil Defense Rescue/Recovery Dive team hHeaded by Robert Kerper, ex-U.S. Navy UDT diver
Burt Webber's Credits
Mr. Webber has been honored with over 50 publication and documentary credits including:
- National Geographic - “Gleaming Treasure from the Silver Bank” – July 1996
- A&E TV Network - “The Wreck of the Concepcion” - February 1998
- The Learning Channel (TLC) – “The Hunt For Amazing Treasures - Burt Webber & The Lost Treasure of The Concepcion” – April 1998
- CBS TV Special - “The Lost Treasure of the Concepcion - 1980
- Readers Digest - “Treasure Hunt; Fabulous Find on Silver Shoals” – April 1980
- Time Magazine - “Discovery of the Concepcion” - January 1979
- The New York Times - “Discovery of the Concepcion” – January 1979
- Today Show - Barbara Walters interview – January 1979
