Scott Mitchen
 
 

Scott Mitchen, a veteran diver of over 30 years, is known worldwide as an expert in using sophisticated detection equipment to locate lost shipwrecks, treasure and logs buried in lakes, rivers, oceans and on land. His success in discovering treasure has led to numerous front-page features: USA Today, New York Times, Washington Post and 800 others from around the world. Scott also has a TV series in development, as well as multiple books on a variety of topics.

Scott has presented seminars on his explorations everywhere from small town Main Street to New York’s Wall Street. He has appeared on CBS This Morning, ABC World News, 60 Minutes and the Hunt for Amazing Treasures, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic, just to name a few. Scott speaks to schools, trade shows, universities and other organizational meetings throughout the world. His presentations include outstanding underwater photos, music, lectures, poems and actual treasures—all to bring across the feeling he gets when working in an underwater time capsule.

Mitchen, known worldwide for his discovery of giant virgin logs in Great Lakes and founder of Timeless Timber, American WetWood L.L.C. and International Explorations (based in Ashland, WI) believes that these logs, cut as long as 250 years ago, are just as exciting as discovering gold and silver.

 
 
 

Discovering The La Trompeuse

  


The first discovery of Scott Mitchen and diving partner Tony Kopp, was a 17th century pirate ship, the La Trompeuse. Using high-end detection equipment by Garrett Metal Detectors, the pair worked diligently in 1990 in the waters off St. Thomas and finally discovered the La Trompeuse which sank in 1683, captained by Hamlyn, the leader of a vicious band of pirates. Mitchen and Kopp recovered enough artifacts to prove they were indeed on the La Trompeuse. They are working with an international group right now—in hopes for them to start the process with the government to study this site further.

Featured above: Tony Kopp (left) and Scott Mitchen (right) discuss strategies for finding the shipwreck La Trompeuse in 1990.

The material things become secondary to the search as the journey becomes the destination. As Mitchen says, “One day I’m holding a sword from the 17th century, the next I’m dealing with the lumberjack from the 19th century—both are a one-on-one situation with the past.”

From the south of France to the jungles of Venezuela, from shipwrecks that litter the oceans’ floors to copper in a northern Wisconsin river, Scott finds history. Mitchen longs to take that journey back in time—a feeling his audiences also experience during his programs.

  Copyright 2008. Will of the Pirates.