Lisa Mongy
Contributor
Come splash down for some Treasure Treats, Treasure Hunting and all kinds of fun, celebrating Art McKee Days. Kids activities, dives, mix and mingle Silver Bar Saturday with the McKee family, and so much more. This fun and fundraising weekend is to benefit our educational outreach. We hope to sea you there...
Don’t just drive by - dive in - to the History of Diving Museum from October 31st to November 2nd for Treasure Hunting mayhem as we celebrate the second annual Art McKee Days.
Who is Art McKee? He is known as the “father of modern treasure hunting.” He is often referred to as Silver Bar McKee for his find of several silver bars from the famous Atocha wreck. A commercial diver from New Jersey, Art relocated to South Florida after a knee injury, first settling in Homestead and later moving to Plantation Key. After his arrival, a local fisherman alerted him to a wreck whose cannons could be seen from the surface and so began McKee’s career in treasure hunting. He was the first to offer a “Treasure Hunting” certificate, taking clients down in an open bottom Miller Dunn helmet. McKee also built the first museum in the Upper Keys, McKee’s Museum of Sunken Treasure. Its second location stands today as Treasure Village Montessori School.
The weekend is packed with activities for divers and non-divers alike. Grab your family, friends, and dive buddies and head to the Florida Keys.
Families kick-off Friday afternoon with Treasure Treats and Costume Contest at the Museum. Bring your treat bag and come in your favorite treasure hunter, diver, pirate, sea monster, or family friendly costume of your choice to grab the best bounty in town. Experience an alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating and meet characters from diving history as you explore the Museum. There will be special discounted admission for adults. Kids are free with a paying adult! Don’t forget to bring them back Saturday afternoon for Junior Treasure Hunting fun. Meet a real treasure hunter , learn to use a metal detector, and explore marine archeology!
Divers have several options over the weekend. Saturday head out with Islamorada Dive Center to Art McKee’s salvage site at the San Pedro wreck off or drop down on the deeper wrecks and explore the Galleon Trail with Key Dives. Head back out on Sunday with Key Dives for an Underwater Treasure Hunt with awesome “booty" to be found! When not underwater on Saturday, grab your friends and dive buddies to form a team (up to four adults) for the Museum’s Island Treasure Hunt. You’ll be sent out in search of landmarks from Art McKee’s life. Will you find all the clues and locations?
Get your tickets and join us Saturday night at the beautiful Chesapeake Beach Resort for Silver Bar Saturday and meet the McKee family. Hear tales of bringing up anchors, coins, and artifacts while we start our silent auction and raffle.
Sunday afternoon brings the celebration back to the Museum for the final silent auction bids, raffles and “booty” distribution. Mayor for Art McKee Day.
Participants attending any Museum functions can pay as they go (up to $70 value) or buy a weekend package in advance online or at the Museum for $50.
Dive trips have been discounted for Island Treasure Hunt participants who pay in advance. Make your boat reservations through the dive stores today. Space is limited.
The History of Diving Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and displaying artifacts, antiques, and photographs that relate to diving and its heritage. The facility’s 3,000 square feet of interactive exhibits feature the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of diving artifacts from more than 30 countries, showcasing mankind’s quest to explore, understand, and venture under the sea.
The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at mile marker 83 bayside in Islamorada, Florida. Regular admission is $12 per adult, half-price for children ages 5 to 11 and free for children under 5.
For more information visit www.divingmuseum.org or send an email to info@divingmuseum.org
DiveNewswire
History of Diving Museum Celebrates Art McKee Days
Celebrate and learn about the art of TREASURE HUNTING Oct. 31 - Nov. 2
Celebrate and learn about the art of TREASURE HUNTING Oct. 31 - Nov. 2
Don’t just drive by - dive in - to the History of Diving Museum from October 31st to November 2nd for Treasure Hunting mayhem as we celebrate the second annual Art McKee Days.
Who is Art McKee? He is known as the “father of modern treasure hunting.” He is often referred to as Silver Bar McKee for his find of several silver bars from the famous Atocha wreck. A commercial diver from New Jersey, Art relocated to South Florida after a knee injury, first settling in Homestead and later moving to Plantation Key. After his arrival, a local fisherman alerted him to a wreck whose cannons could be seen from the surface and so began McKee’s career in treasure hunting. He was the first to offer a “Treasure Hunting” certificate, taking clients down in an open bottom Miller Dunn helmet. McKee also built the first museum in the Upper Keys, McKee’s Museum of Sunken Treasure. Its second location stands today as Treasure Village Montessori School.
The weekend is packed with activities for divers and non-divers alike. Grab your family, friends, and dive buddies and head to the Florida Keys.
Families kick-off Friday afternoon with Treasure Treats and Costume Contest at the Museum. Bring your treat bag and come in your favorite treasure hunter, diver, pirate, sea monster, or family friendly costume of your choice to grab the best bounty in town. Experience an alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating and meet characters from diving history as you explore the Museum. There will be special discounted admission for adults. Kids are free with a paying adult! Don’t forget to bring them back Saturday afternoon for Junior Treasure Hunting fun. Meet a real treasure hunter , learn to use a metal detector, and explore marine archeology!
Divers have several options over the weekend. Saturday head out with Islamorada Dive Center to Art McKee’s salvage site at the San Pedro wreck off or drop down on the deeper wrecks and explore the Galleon Trail with Key Dives. Head back out on Sunday with Key Dives for an Underwater Treasure Hunt with awesome “booty" to be found! When not underwater on Saturday, grab your friends and dive buddies to form a team (up to four adults) for the Museum’s Island Treasure Hunt. You’ll be sent out in search of landmarks from Art McKee’s life. Will you find all the clues and locations?
Get your tickets and join us Saturday night at the beautiful Chesapeake Beach Resort for Silver Bar Saturday and meet the McKee family. Hear tales of bringing up anchors, coins, and artifacts while we start our silent auction and raffle.
Sunday afternoon brings the celebration back to the Museum for the final silent auction bids, raffles and “booty” distribution. Mayor for Art McKee Day.
Participants attending any Museum functions can pay as they go (up to $70 value) or buy a weekend package in advance online or at the Museum for $50.
Dive trips have been discounted for Island Treasure Hunt participants who pay in advance. Make your boat reservations through the dive stores today. Space is limited.
The History of Diving Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and displaying artifacts, antiques, and photographs that relate to diving and its heritage. The facility’s 3,000 square feet of interactive exhibits feature the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of diving artifacts from more than 30 countries, showcasing mankind’s quest to explore, understand, and venture under the sea.
The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at mile marker 83 bayside in Islamorada, Florida. Regular admission is $12 per adult, half-price for children ages 5 to 11 and free for children under 5.
For more information visit www.divingmuseum.org or send an email to info@divingmuseum.org
DiveNewswire
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