Christian B. Roper is an accomplished American explorer, diver, television personality, and unscripted television producer renowned for his appearances in TV series that explore pirate legends. He is the founder of The Subsea Society, a Texas-based research organization dedicated to the study of Caribbean piracy and aquatic folklore.
Roper's passion for exploration is deeply rooted in his family history. His grandfather co-founded a secret society called “The Owls Club” with Admiral Richard E. Byrd while on the Antarctic expedition "Operation Highjump." His uncle was part of a dive team that unearthed a late 17th-century wreck off the coast of Panamá in 1990, believed to be linked to the pirate Henry Morgan. Raised by parents who were dive guides in the Mexican Caribbean, Roper's upbringing was steeped in maritime adventure and lore.
Roper learning to dive at a young age.
Roper freediving a freshwater spring. Roper’s father was an accomplished freediver who trained under world record-holder Tanya Streeter.
Christian on the shores of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, investigating legends of the sunken Maya city of Samabaj.
From a young age, Roper was captivated by the allure of pirates and their enduring mysteries. At 22, he was invited by treasure hunting icons Rick and Marty Lagina to feature in the History Channel series Beyond Oak Island. The pilot, which premiered in 2020 to an audience of approximately two million, showcased Roper leading a daring expedition into a secluded swamp, where his team of divers searched for millions in pirate silver.
Roper leading dive expedition on History Channel’s Beyond Oak Island.
Roper's investigations into the folklore of notorious French pirates Jean and Pierre Laffite, particularly in Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico, have garnered him recognition from esteemed historians, including Laffite Society founder Jim Nonus, as one of the leading experts in the field. His recent venture led a team of Canadian explorers to a secluded Louisiana island in search of what he believes might have been a clandestine pirate refuge.
Nicknamed "the Doogie Howser of treasure hunting" by the renowned treasure hunter Gary Drayton, Roper expanded his quest in his early 20s to Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, delving deep into the treasure legends of Central America.
“AN AUTHORITY ON PIRATE TREASURE STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD”
Roper metal detecting heavy surf on Mexico’s Yucatán coast.
After making his mark as an on-camera personality, Christian B. Roper expanded his horizons behind the camera, fueled by a passion for conservation. In 2023, he directed his inaugural project, Wild Majesty: Africa’s Circle of Life. A year later, he took on the roles of director and executive producer for Secrets of the Abyss, a documentary that chronicles the exploits of the NOAA Ocean Exploration team.
Roper's diverse experiences have also led him to explore the paranormal. After witnessing an unidentified flying object over Guatemala's Lake Atitlán, he developed a keen interest in otherworldly phenomena, even participating as an investigator in various projects, including The Shape of Shadows, a documentary focusing on the forgotten neighbors of Utah’s Skinwalker Ranch.
Roper's academic journey includes a degree from the prestigious University of Texas at Austin, complemented by further studies in Antarctic research and digital archaeology at Argentina's Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and Italy's Sapienza Università di Roma.
When not searching for truth and treasure, Roper enjoys playing music and traveling the world with his girlfriend, Emmy-winning journalist Autumn Jones. He is writing his first book, Jean Laffite: In Pursuit of a Pirate - chronicling his years of investigations into the pirate’s many legends, leading to Roper’s belief that Laffite was a deeply connected Freemason and possibly an American spy and chaos agent. The book directly connects Pirate Laffite to Napoleon himself, a Masonic conspiracy to move a French treasure to the New World, and a bizarre failed plot for power in the young American nation.
A skilled researcher, Roper has documented some of his thrilling expeditions in television series, documentaries, and upcoming educational and book projects, captivating audiences worldwide. His unrelenting determination and fiery passion for exploration have placed him at the forefront of a new generation of adventurers, and he aims to bring these adventures to a screen near you.
