Lifeguard Peter Leo researching vintage anchor, rescued near Ocean Reef Park

By John Christopher Fine (article)

Last summer, Palm Beach County lifeguard Lt. Peter Leo heard about an anchor submerged near Ocean Reef Park in Riviera Beach where he works. He snorkeled out and saw a large ship’s anchor in about 20 feet of water. The anchor had both intact wooden stock and iron flukes and lay uncovered in the sand.

Years earlier, Leo discovered a Spanish aviso, or courier ship, off Jupiter’s beach. He worked with the state of Florida and archaeologists to explore and excavate finds from what has been identified as San Miguel Archangel, which sank around 1660.

Leo and his team of divers recovered gold bars and silver coins, along with artifacts of historic importance. Artifacts from that shipwreck are on display at the Loxahatchee Historical Society Museum in Jupiter and in the state museum in Tallahassee.

Two cannons and an anchor from the San Miguel shipwreck are preserved on the grounds of the museum. Two more cannons and another anchor from the San Miguel have been donated to Palm Beach County and will eventually be put on display at Jupiter Inlet Park.

While Leo’s latest find is likely from a more recent shipwreck — an iron-hulled 1890s-vintage sailing vessel — it is still an important piece of history.

“A snorkeler found the anchor in July 2009,” he said. “It was very exposed. He contacted Brian Portman, a diver who installs underwater moorings and does salvage work. Brian contacted me.”

Leo snorkeled out after work and examined the anchor. The next day, he traveled to the site by skiff and met Portman. They snorkeled the site, found the anchor exposed and tagged it.

Leo contacted state authorities and advised them of the find.

When Leo and Portman returned the next day, the anchor had been moved.

 

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