James Delgado first guest on podcast

We’ve all read headlines like this:

“Chinese Find Shipwreck Laden with Ming Porcelain”
“1800s Whaling Ship Discovered off Island Shores”
“Early Submarine Unearthed”
“Divers Uncover Lost Treasure Ship”

Behind each of these discoveries are not only the stories of the ships, their crews, and the eras they sailed, but also the tales of the men and women who devote their lives to uncovering them.

These maritime archaeologists painstakingly investigate, document, and preserve the fragments of our seafaring past, ensuring that vital pieces of human history aren’t lost to the depths.

In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, we might take such discoveries for granted. Shipwrecks, we think, are found with ease—thanks to state-of-the-art ships, skilled archaeologists, and advanced underwater robotics. It seems routine.

But it wasn’t always this way.

In our inaugural episode, we sit down with renowned maritime archaeologist Dr. James Delgado, who sheds light on the evolution of maritime archaeology, introduces us to its trailblazers, and explains how this fascinating field has transformed over time. And yes, we’ll also touch on one of the most famous wrecks of all time—Titanic.

About Our Guest Dr. James P. Delgado

James Delgado, Ph.D. (Jim) is among the world’s leading experts in maritime archaeology and cultural heritage. He’s written more than 36 books, 200 articles, and has given hundreds of presentations worldwide. He has been the lead archaeologist on two TV series: The Sea Hunters, which was produced by Eco Nova Productions and ran from 2002 to 2006. He was also part of the National Geographic’s Drain the Oceans series, which ran from 2018 to 2023. Delgado has also been an integral part of over 150 shipwreck investigations, including the USS Monitor, the USS Independence, the USS Arizona, the Buried Gold Rush ships of San Francisco, the slave ship, Clotilda, and the wreck we’re all familiar with, Titanic.

Visit Jim’s website.