Book about the real “Treasure Island” arrives in the British Virgin Islands

Feb. 29, 2012 - PRLog -- New Maritima Press welcomes Christopher Juredin, owner of Commercial Dive Services and We Be Divin’ at Tortola, British Virgin Islands, to handle distribution of this soon-to-be-popular book on one of the Caribbean’s greatest adventure stories. Robert Louis Stevenson published Treasure Island in 1883. Thanks to his character Long John Silver, Stevenson has defined how we look at pirates today in popular culture. Without Treasure Island there would be no Jack Sparrow or Pirate’s of the Caribbean.

In Treasure Island there is a treasure map dated 1750. That date is no accident as there was a real treasure that was stolen from a disabled Spanish galleon at Ocracoke, North Carolina, and buried on Norman Island on November 13, 1750. That date precedes the birthday of Robert Louis Stevenson by exactly one hundred years.

American author and maritime historian, John Amrhein, Jr., has documented an amazing history that up until now has almost been forgotten. With the help of researchers in England, Spain, Denmark, The Netherlands, Scotland, Wales, and the Caribbean, Amrhein has resurrected a story that someday may find its way to the big screen.

Christopher Juredin has a special affection for Norman Island. Not only has he been captivated by local tales of the treasure once buried there but it was at Norman that he met his wife, Holly, and it was here that they were married.  Asked if he thinks Norman Island is “Treasure Island” and he is sure to answer with a resounding, “Yes!”
 
Christopher has lived and worked in the BVI for the past fifteen years and has a profound love for the islands and its people.  He is well versed in the history of the islands and the stories about the shipwrecks. He sponsors a group of underwater archaeological field school students every other year in their search for the wreck of the HMS Nymph, a ship that sank in Virgin Islands waters in 1783. He operates a dive shop in Tortola called We Be Divin.’ Christopher also runs a commercial diving and marine construction business.

Christopher took the BVI’s famous “pirate” Bert Kilbride exploring and diving in the Caves at Norman Island on his 90th birthday. Kilbride passed away in 2008 leaving many a legend about himself.

After reading Treasure Island: The Untold story, Christopher Juredin has become even more connected with his favorite island. He said that this fascinating read will make you want to come down to the islands and see “Treasure Island” for yourself.
You can find out more at http://www.commercialdivebvi.com and http://www.bviscubadive.com

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New Maritima Press is a publisher on non-fiction maritime history and reproduction nautical charts. The Hidden Galleon: The True Story of a Lost Spanish Ship and the Legendary Wild Horses of Assateague Island was published in 2007. This book and Treasure Island: The Untold Story document a complete history of the 1750 fleet. Visit www.outerbanksnc.com