Treasure Hunters Strike it Big in Brevard County: A Haul from the 1715 Fleet

Treasure Hunters Strike it Big in Brevard County: A Haul from the 1715 Fleet

300 year old shell encrusted silver coins and artifacts recovered by divers off the coast of Brevard County in May. Photo: 1715 Fleet Queens Jewels LLC

Adventure awaits beneath the waves of Florida’s coast, where the treasure-hunting season has already yielded an extraordinary find. In Brevard County, a group of dedicated treasure hunters unearthed a bounty of silver coins from a shipwreck that has lain undisturbed for over 300 years.

Lightning Touches Off Wildfire In Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Space Center Is Safe (So Far)

Lightning Touches Off Wildfire In Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Space Center Is Safe (So Far)

Smoke from a wildfire at Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge obscures NASA’s iconic VAB facility. Photo: Charles Boyer/FMN

A lightning strike from a severe thunderstorm started a conflagration in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge this afternoon. It is north of Kennedy Space Center, and is currently no threat to property or human endeavor — in other words, the facilities at Kennedy Space Center.

Experience Speed and Space at Thunder on Cocoa Beach

A high-speed powerboat zips along the space coast thrilling crowds in Cocoa Beach, Fl this past weekend. Image by Richard P Gallagher
A high-speed powerboat zips along the space coast thrilling crowds in Cocoa Beach, Fl this past weekend. Image by Richard P Gallagher/FMN

This past weekend, the 15th Annual Thunder on Cocoa Beach powerboat racing event roared into action from May 17-19, drawing in massive crowds and delivering high-octane thrills. Known for its intense racing and scenic Atlantic backdrop, this year’s event did not disappoint.

Scales and Tailwinds: Alligator Mistakes Air Base for Swamp Resort

Scales and Tailwinds: Alligator Mistakes Air Base for Swamp Resort

A large alligator rests near the landing gear of a KC-135 at Macdill AFB, Florida on Monday.
A large alligator rests near the landing gear of a KC-135 at MacDill AFB, Florida on Monday. Photo: MacDill AFB

TAMPA, Fla. – An unexpected visitor found his way onto the tarmac at MacDill Air Force Base yesterday, prompting a swift response from Florida Fish and Wildlife authorities. After crawling out of a nearby marsh, the nearly 10-foot alligator promptly did what gators do…. found a nice cool spot to get out of the hot Florida sun. Unfortunately for the busy airmen at the base, the gator apparently claimed “squatter’s rights” in front of the landing gear of a huge KC-135 tanker aircraft.

Sargussum Is Coming Soon To A Florida Beach Near You (Probably)

Sargussum Is Coming Soon To A Florida Beach Near You (Probably)

Cocoa Beach in Florida
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

In what has become a rite of summer, it’s nearly Sargussum season on Florida beaches. In many recent years, thick brown mats of a macroalgae named Sargussum start washing up on the shorelines, sometimes reaching several inches in depth in early summer, and those mats linger until well into the season.

Sargassum often comes with a pungent stench attached to it — something between sewage and rotten eggs — due to the mats off-gassing Hydrogen Sulfide and Ammonia, among others. Hydrogen Sulfide smells like rotten eggs, and ammonia is most commonly linked to a stale urine smell. This makes a sargassum-covered beach a wholly unpleasant experience, and that’s before the brown water is created in the surf by Sargassum decaying in the water.

Celebrating Tradition: FIHA’s 58th Annual Powwow

Photo: Cal Foxton/FMN

The rhythmic beat of drums, the vibrant swirl of colorful regalia, and the spirit of unity filled the air at the St. Lucie Fairgrounds from March 22nd to 24th as the Florida Indian Heritage Association (FIHA) hosted its 58th Annual Powwow. This three-day event served as a celebration of Native American culture, drawing participants and spectators from diverse backgrounds to honor traditions, forge connections, and educate the broader community.

“Holes In The Clouds” Appear Over Florida’s Offshore Waters

“Holes In The Clouds” Appear Over Florida’s Offshore Waters

Famed Florida fine-arts photographer Clyde Butcher once said, “Out west, they have their mountains. We have our clouds.” Butcher’s observation was spot-on. The Sunshine State is home to some incredible sights in our skies—be it the setting sun illuminating a faraway thunderstorm, a wall cloud from an approaching tropical storm, or even just a regular day when the clouds take on shapes where they appear to be animals or something else familiar. There’s always something interesting to see here by simply looking upwards into the atmosphere.