When Kevin Dykstra and Frederick Monroe began their search of Lake Michigan in 2011 it was gold, not a shipwreck, that they were looking for. According to a local legend, $2 million in gold had been dropped from a ferry crossing the lake back in the 19th century and the pair had been hoping to discover its location.
What they found instead however were the long lost remains of a 17th-century ship that they believed to be the Griffin, a vessel built by French explorer Robert de La Salle in 1679.
"I didn't go down there with the expectation of seeing a shipwreck - I can tell you that," said Dykstra.
The newly discovered wreck however has turned out to be something of a mystery in itself as experts have been unable to agree upon whether it is actually the ship that the pair are claiming it is.
Another leading theory suggests that it could be the remnants of a tugboat.
According to historical accounts, La Salle had sailed across Lake Michigan in an attempt to find the mouth of the Mississippi River but ended up running out of money. He later returned to the area for a second attempt but sailed out in stormy weather and his ship was never seen again.
Despite the unintended discovery however the pair are keen to resume their original search.
"It's a mystery ship that got in our way," said Dykstra, "and now, we're going for the gold."
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