The wreck of the Portuguese vessel in the waters off Ungwana Bay, north of Malindi, could have a name and a date, and together with its history, the Museums of Kenya could reconstruct the same vessel and turn it into East Africa's first underwater museum.
After years of research, which also involved the Italian marine archaeologist Sebastiano Tusa until 2017, before his tragic and untimely death on board the Ethiopian Boeing 747 bound for Kenya, the Kenyan scholar Caesar Bita, a world-renowned underwater archaeologist, seems to have finally come up with concrete results. The vessel, measuring around 20 metres wide and 40 metres long, is said to date back to 1544 and was used by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama during one of his last voyages to the Kenyan coast.
The discovery was made public by Bita himself, at the end of the latest patrols together with Portuguese archaeologist Felipe Castro and a pool of foreign experts who collaborated with the Kenyan underwater archaeologists, including Susan Mtakai of the Kenyan Coast Guard, the only woman to work with the archaeologists in underwater research. Research sponsored by American archaeologist Gary Philbrick.

During the excavations, the team discovered artefacts used by sailors, including pottery, elephant tusks and other objects. The series of relics found and dated not only allows the reconstruction of the explorer's history, trades and voyages, but also the recreation of the setting. Hence Bita's idea to create an underwater museum in Malindi, reconstructing the vessel and displaying the relics for Kenyan visitors and international tourists. ‘The ivory trade dates back to the 14th century, consequently we know where to start and we will take these pieces of elephant tusks and the pottery to the laboratory to establish their exact age,’ Bita said, pointing out that the discoveries show that the Kenyan coast has been an important trade route for thousands of years. ‘We will build a real model of the ship and allow people to come and learn about its history. Vasco da Gama is believed to have used this ship during his many trade missions to the East African coast. The aim of this excavation is to create a museum to illustrate the history of the East African coast as a trade route for the Romans, Chinese, Portuguese and Arabs,' said the Kenyan researcher.

There is more. Bita spoke of training young maritime archaeologists, setting up interpretation centres and involving the local community in meaningful ways. Thanks to Bita, in Ngomeni, the project is creating tangible opportunities for the locals. Fifteen young people have already been trained as divers, while others have found work in various support roles.
‘The experience was exciting, but I am very happy for the people of Ngomeni for what is going to happen in the future, for their lives and careers. I hope, wish and pray that it stays here for a long time, so that many after me can come and see it,’ Philbrick said.