not surprizing --the manila gallones --were famous treasure fleet vessels that transported vast amounts of fine asain trade goods --from the garthering port of manila in the phillipines to the west coast of mexico , where the cargo was then carried over land to the east coast of mexico and reloaded unto spanish treasure vessels to go to havana ,cuba then after hooking up with ovther vessels from spain's south american ports --they would head back to spain with their loot and trade goods.
with the phillipines being the way it is--the robbing of any type of salvage vessel attempting to work these wrecks by armed pirates is a very real possiblity .
Alexandre,
What's the low down on the Archeologist they reference? The Philippines isn't exactly know to be the home of honest government. Usually $$$ talks and corruption is still out of control.