Discovering Ancient Shipwrecks in Menorca with Trent Alves

Explorers Club student member Trent Alves takes us beneath the waters of Menorca, where an underwater archaeology project is reshaping our understanding of Mediterranean history. The Menorca Shipwreck Project, a field school based along the coast of Ciutadella on the Spanish island of Menorca, brings together students and professionals in partnership with organizations including the Explorers Club (Flag #69), the Ocean Foundation, and local Menorcan museums.
What began as a routine survey tied to harbor expansion quickly evolved into something far more compelling. After intensive dive training, including a specialized archaeology certification developed for the expedition, the team commenced excavation in a cove known as Cala en Busquets. Early findings suggested the remains of an 18th-century Spanish vessel. But as the work progressed, a different picture began to emerge.
The site revealed not one, but two shipwrecks – one dating back not to the Age of Sail, but to the era of the Córdoba Caliphate (approx. 1,000 ADE). Given the scarcity of surviving material culture from this period, the discovery offers a rare and valuable glimpse into a largely unseen chapter of Mediterranean history.


Born and raised in Los Angeles, Trent Alves is an archaeology student at California State University, Northridge, with a strong interest in history, antiquity, and exploration. Having spent much of his life outdoors, he is drawn to documenting the past and pursuing experiences off the beaten path, inspired by explorers both real and fictional.

This program was organized by Reymundo Perez #1219.