Hi Guys
I contracted some Cuban wreck divers for a salvage operation that i ran two years ago. I went to Havanna several times to meet them and their superiors so i think that i know quite well the wreck salvage situation there.
At 90's Cuban goverment formed a state owned company for salvage and study old galleons. The company had good resources, several research and salvage vessels and boats, Cesium magnetometer, side scan sonar, coservation labs, tanks and and stuff. A systematic research in archives was also conducted. Part of spanish archives are still in Cuba, actas mainly, when rest was sent to Sevilla where their still remain in unopened boxes without public access to them. Actas are very usefull and in most cases complete document is not needed when acta is well written. They also interviewed local fisher men making notes and stuff.
Divers came from navy, captains from fishing vessels and tugboats, electric engineers, chemists, university degree archaeologists and other professionals like that were mobilized for the project. It was a full time job for this people. This company worked like ten years o so before something happened in government and their resources were taken away.
When one visits any maritime museum in Cuba, all, all artefacts are recovered and concervated by this one company. They have in their register more than 1000 "potential treasure wrecks" with exact location, magnetometer survey and photos from preliminary studies.
Those few "western" salvors who have been working in Cuba must all have been in contact with this company and it's former employees who are now in other government jobs running underwater studies.
If one want's to do salvage in Cuba, i don't know how to put this, i would say that it is still possible up to certain limit if persons involved are serious and good reputation.
Many of these former employees are now working in shipwreck operations all over the world, Mosambique, Filipines, Florida, South America etc. They are very high skilled salvors so it's really fun to work with them.
I worked with two of them for three years and i was surprised how deep and broad their knowledge and skills are, their were capable to take responsibilities way beyond "just a diver".
Salud
Finn
