Pirate shipwrecks discovered off Bahamas coast; one may belong to famous pirate

An expedition in Nassau, Bahamas, has uncovered three shipwrecks from the Golden Age of Piracy, potentially including the vessel of the notorious pirate Henry Every. The "New Providence Pirates" expedition, a collaboration between London-based Wreckwatch and the Bahamian Antiquities, Monuments and Museum Corporation, marks the first official permit to search for pirate shipwrecks in Nassau's port.

Nassau, once a hub for pirates in the early 18th century, has seen much of its underwater heritage destroyed by modern development. The expedition faced significant challenges, including heavy maritime traffic, dangerous currents, sharks, and the destruction of the old harbor floor. "The risk of coming back with nothing was high," said maritime archaeologist Sean Kingsley, a project leader.

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The risk of coming back with nothing was high. The water traffic, dangerous rip currents, sharks, and the fact that large parts of the old port floor have been destroyed – all this made planning enormously complicated.

Despite the difficulties, the expedition, which took place in the autumn of 2025, found three wrecks from the pirate era. One wreck features a charred wooden hull, a common pirate tactic to scuttle ships. Kingsley believes this could be the remains of Henry Every's ship, the "Fancy." Artifacts recovered include cannonballs, musket balls, and 143 clay pipes.

"The recovered materials belong to the Bahamas and will become part of the country's heritage after conservation work," stated Michael Pateman, the project's co-leader and director of the Bahamas Maritime Museum. The expedition's findings are featured in the documentary series "Wreckwatch TV" and "Wreckwatch Magazine."

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The recovered materials belong to the Bahamas and after conservation work will become part of the country's heritage.