DIVERS have unearthed the 330-year-old remains of Britain’s richest shipwreck that was laden with a cargo of precious diamonds and pearls from India when it sank in 1684.

Recent storms have shifted sands to reveal the 17th-century cannons and anchors off the coast of Cornwall.

The crew of the merchant ship President survived a miraculous battle with pirates and near starvation — but all-but-two died in a storm within sight of land at notorious Loe Bar, near Porthleven, Cornwall.

Fragments of the ship were first reported by divers 20 years ago, but now underwater explorers from Historic England found never-before-seen cannons and an anchor.

It is believed recent storms have shifted sands, revealing the loot to Cornwall Maritime Archaeology divers David Gibbins and Mark Milburn.

Gibbins said, “The site was first reported by divers 20 years ago and was designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.

“Mark and I are licensed by Historic England to monitor the wreck, but for many years it has been covered by sand.

“Loe Bar is usually a dangerous place to dive — the entry and exit are treacherous even with the smallest of waves.

“The recent period of calm weather has allowed us to get in for the first time in months.

“During our dive we were thrilled to discover seven cannons and an anchor at the site, only a few meters from shore in less than 7-meter depth.

“We were exploring an area where artifacts had never previously been recorded, and we realized we were looking at new finds.

“With every storm the sand can shift to reveal new treasures. It was incredibly exciting to see something that nobody has ever seen before.

“Cannons are common finds on the wrecks of merchant ships from the age of sail, when most ships were armed.

“But it’s very unusual to know that guns on a merchantmen were actually used, especially in such a colorful action and on the very voyage on which the ship was wrecked.

“It gives a special excitement to seeing these guns for the first time underwater.”

The East India Co. ship President met her end in February 1684, and only two crew members remained alive to tell the tale.

Their accounts of the final voyage of the ship is known in remarkable detail because a pamphlet was published a few months after the wrecking.

The tale goes that as the President set off for home the crew were involved in a deadly battle with pirates off the Malabar Coast of India.

(SD-Agencies)