 In Hollywood
movies, the Captain of a treasure hunting vessel is almost always an “old salt,” someone who lives
for the sea and has led a life of daring and adventure. Jose Nelson “Papo” Garcia, the new captain
of the R/V Dare, is the kind of man that inspired those portrayals. A man whose love of the sea and
diving for treasure would lead him to defy his government, give up his country and his home and leave
friends and family for the freedom to pursue his dreams.
Papo was born in Havana, Cuba in 1966 and began diving with his father when he was 9 years old. He
became a professional diver during a stint in the Cuban Navy and in 1987 began diving for the
government’s national archaeological service. He developed a specialization in underwater photography
and video and provided footage for a 1992 National Geographic presentation “Cuba’s Lost Treasures.”
In 1992 he began serving as captain of various research vessels. His skill and knowledge led to
invitations to work on underwater sites around the world including work with French treasure diver
Frank Goddio on the ancient city of Alexandria in Egypt and a 15th century Chinese wreck in the
Philippines. He was also asked to participate in international archaeological conferences, one of
which would begin the chain of events that changed his life.
Like anyone in “the business,” Papo knew about the discovery of the Atocha and had seen pictures of the
treasure. Having worked on galleons of the same era he was very interested in seeing the artifacts in
person. In 1997 his chance came when he was invited to a conference at Texas A&M University. This
required a visa to visit the United States which at the time the Cuban government was happy to provide.
“I asked for a 20 day visa,” Papo recalls “and they gave me one for 6 months.” After the conference
he stopped in Key West to examine the Atocha treasure as well as finally meet a fellow treasure
hunter whose exploits he had followed for many years - Mel Fisher. The picture he had taken with Mel
on that visit is now one of his fondest possessions.
After his return to Cuba, Papo continued his work. However, his reputation in the international diving
community had now come to the attention of the Ministerio del Interior, which Papo characterizes as the
Cuban FBI, and they were not pleased. “I had developed too many international connections, which is not
a good thing in Cuba even though I had nothing to do with politics,” he observes. In early 1999, Papo’s
boss came to him with a letter from the government. A letter that required his signature, stating that
he could never dive or hold managerial positions in Cuba again. A letter saying that the only job
options open to him now were in construction or farming. A letter that told him the life he loved
was over. “In Cuba everyone works for the government so if they said I could not dive, I had no
choice,” he says, “I signed the letter.”
After a few months of trying to accept a future where he was forbidden to do what he loved, Papo
says that his course was clear: “I had been diving professionally since 1984. This is my passion. This
is my life. I had to leave.” He cannot reveal details of his escape in order to protect those who helped
him, but like so many others who seek the freedom of the United States, Papo made his way across the
90-mile width of the Florida Straits to come ashore to a new life in the Keys. He brought with him some
books, his photographs, and his diving records, but he left behind almost everything else, including a
6 year old son who was living with his mother. “It was so very hard to leave, not knowing when I might
see my son again.” he recalls.
He landed in Key West on October 24th, 1999, and was a little surprised to find himself in the middle
of a giant party. “I didn’t know it was just a couple of days before Fantasy Fest,” he says, referring
to Key West’s version of Mardi Gras. “It was a little crazy, but a very good time to get here.” The choice
of where to live and how he could apply his skill and experience in treasure hunting was easy for Papo:
“Since long before I met him I had wanted to work for Mel Fisher so I stayed in Key West and lived with
my brother-in-law.” In 2000 he officially joined the Mel Fisher’s Treasures team, jumping in to do
whatever needed doing - boat maintenance, helping out in the conservation lab, diving whenever the
opportunity arose. Once he was established here, Papo set about bringing his son over. It took several years
to arrange a trip that took the boy and his mother through the Honduras, Belize, and Mexico where they were
able to cross over into the United States eight months ago, when Papo was finally reunited with his 11
year-old son.
On one of his first dives from the Magruder, Papo found three Atocha coins by visual search. For most of us,
that would be the thrill of our lives. For Jose Nelson “Papo” Garcia, a man who chose self-imposed exile
from his home country to continue pursuing his passion for treasure hunting, it is his life, and he won’t
hesitate to tell you: “I am 100% happy with it.”
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