SAND AND SEA
PEOPLE OF INTEREST
JONAH MARTINEZ
Age: 43
Lives in: Port St. Lucie
Occupation: treasure hunting,
People
custom metalwork
Education: home-schooled,
graduated from Martin County
High School; some classes at
Indian River State College
Family: Wife Maria and three children:
Amanda, John and Kaylee
Hobbies: “I build things out of metal, collect marbles and
enjoy remote control cars.”
Who inspires me: “My parents always encouraged me to
chase my dreams. And there are a few guys whose names
always come up in the treasure-hunting business: Steve Hancock
People
— almost a hermit, but he metal detects every day and
has a sixth sense; and John Brandon — no real job since he
was 16. He’s spent his whole life doing this.”
What people don’t know about me: “I’ve never been superstitious,
In 2015, Capitana made headlines with a $6.5 million find
but some days at the beach or on the water you feel
in gold coins. Three hundred gold coins were also recovered
things, a kind of energy, something magic. At first it scared
from a Spanish ship on the 300th anniversary of its sinking.
me, but now I find it comforting.”
Treasure hunters may find gold, silver, emeralds, diamonds
… or spend thousands of dollars and find nothing.
Treasure hunting involves hours of work, sometimes in
bone-chilling cold. Weather is scrutinized.
and others were on the beach waiting for low tide at 1:30
“A north wind pulls the sand off the coast; an east wind
a.m. Martinez was knee-deep in the water when his feet hit
adds it back,” Martinez says. “You have to find the window
a gravely patch. He found a coin, then another, then more. In
where you have the best chance to find something.”
three hours, Martinez recovered silver coins, musket balls,
After a cold front moved through in February, Martinez spikes and nails and melted lead.
>>
27
People
SALES &
SERVICE
read the water and the weather,” he says. “On days off, while
the others were at the bar, I’d dive in the harbor, finding stuff.”
When his business took off, Martinez quit the boats for six
years, opting to hunt for treasure on the beach. Never a 9-to-
5er, though, he couldn’t stay away. Today, Martinez is captain
for Capitana Treasure Divers.
“I tell investors to repeat after me: ‘This is the worst investment
I’ll ever make.’ But in 24 years, it’s worked out — sometimes
a life-changing season. It’s a passion for me and our
guys. We keep learning more, increasing our odds.”
Treasure hunters are a different breed, says Cole Smith,
one of Capitana’s divers. “We don’t punch a clock or get a
paycheck.”
And although no one wants to see a hurricane or tropical
storm cause destruction, treasure hunters love it when one
skirts the coast. When Hurricane Dorian ripped through the
Bahamas last year, Martinez watched and waited on a Florida
beach. Finally his wife called to ask when he’d be coming
home. Martinez told her, “I don’t want to be here when a hurricane
hits, but I damn sure don’t want to be anywhere else.”
SUN
ROOFS
772.342.4968
www.itrmarine.com
ITR Marine features marine air conditioners,
heaters, sunroofs, water heaters, pumps,
refrigeration products, ice machines, water makers,
and electronics. We have a huge inventory of
industry leading products at competitive prices.
CHILLED WATER • SELF CONT AINED • REFRIGERA TOR/FREEZER
/itrmarine.com
/www.itrmarine.com