Cape Breton Treasure Hunters

Table of Contents

Cape Breton Treasure Hunt in Mira River

The Cape Breton treasure search is underway as Captain Jeff MacKinnon leads his crew into Nova Scotia’s Mira River. They hope to recover Spanish gold, silver coins, emeralds, and jewels from the Fancy, a 17th-century pirate ship once captained by Edward Low.

The hunt builds on last summer’s discovery of an unmarked wreck, possibly linked to Low or another feared pirate, Black Bart. With shipwrecks already uncovered and featured in the History Channel’s The Death Coast, MacKinnon’s team believes this latest expedition could reveal one of the most valuable maritime finds in Canadian waters.

More Than Money

For MacKinnon, treasure hunting is not about personal fortune. Nova Scotia’s repeal of the Treasure Trove Act requires all artifacts to be surrendered to the province. Instead, his motivation is twofold: preserving history and supporting his unique crew.

The team is made up of veterans, retired police officers, and firefighters from Canada and the United States. Many struggle with PTSD or trauma and find healing in the hunt. For them, diving for history doubles as therapy, blending adventure, teamwork, and a renewed sense of purpose.

A Legacy of History and Healing

MacKinnon’s family legacy runs deep. His father, Robert, famously uncovered Spanish dollars and gold coins in 1977. Now Jeff aims to combine that tradition with a mission to protect veterans’ well-being. Crew members, like U.S. Marine veteran Dan Griego, describe the experience as therapeutic—“treasure and therapy at the same time.”

For military veterans and first responders, the project provides community, storytelling, and a sense of belonging often lost after service. Crew member Michelle Burke emphasizes that the work is about “preserving lives and history.”

Challenges and Urgency

The Cape Breton treasure mission faces challenges. The History Channel has not renewed The Death Coast, leaving the crew searching for new funding. Climate change also threatens their finds, as warmer waters and fast-growing kelp bury artifacts, while fragile materials degrade over time.

Despite these hurdles, MacKinnon remains determined. He holds Nova Scotia’s only license to recover artifacts from the sea and believes that what his team recovers belongs to the people. For him, Cape Breton’s maritime history is as vital as the therapy his crew gains from the hunt.

As he put it, “There’s no mermaids or treasure chests, but what remains is history, Cape Breton history – a history the world should know.”