The following photos and videos were shot as part of the “Sunken Silver” independent documentary project, which was shot in entirety prior to the legend’s appearance on Beyond Oak Island.
The documentary was shelved as its contents were later used to develop multiple television series.
All photos and videos are owned fully by Christian Roper.
A0001. Sonar team conducts side scan tests of the lake.
A0002. Sonar team conducts side scan tests of the lake.
A0003. Aerial footage of sonar team performing side scan tests of the lake.
A0004. Sonar professional Calvin Wilcher briefing Christian and team on anomalies located within the lake.
A005. Crew launching dive boat.
A006. Calvin and Alex Wilcher during initial dive. Calvin communicates with divers underwater.
A007. Static shot of the lake.
A008. Assembling transom-mount sonar unit.
A009. Christian discovers wagon piece in the lake and brings to boat for identification.
A010. Christian tests gear in preparation for dive.
A011. Christian submerges during initial recovery dive.
A013. Aerial of lake from plane.
A015. Christian leads Canadian research team to "Area X" in Southwest Louisiana, now identified as an original auction site of the Laffites between 1817 and 1819.
A012. Scouting flight above lake.
A014. Pilot Ben Casey and Christian perform scouting operation above lake to determine smuggling route.
P001. Diver in dry suit prepares to submerge.
P002. Christian during a recovery dive at the lake.
P003. Christian during recovery dive at the lake.
P004. Christian during recovery dive at the lake.
P005. Diver prepped for recovery dive.
P006. Diver Steve Erwin is prepped for investigative dive.
P007. Christian surfaces from a dive in the lake.
P008. Christian metal detecting on a possible Laffite shipwreck site near Isla Pajaros, Yucatán, Mexico.
P009. Christian prepares to dig and dislodge pieces of a submerged wagon.
P010. Christian’s team of Alex Wilcher, Steve Erwin, and Calvin Wilcher perform first ever modern magnetometry survey of the lake.
P011. Christian rests between dives at the lake.
P012. Christian detecting near Isla Pajaros, Yucatán, Mexico, to corroborate reports the Laffites may have run a sloop aground there around 1820. Copper plating, cannons, and ballast stones were later reported by local fishermen to Christian at a depth of 23 feet. The ship remains unreported, waiting for future investigation in 2025.
P013. Side scan sonar rig designed by team specifically for lake survey.
P014. Aerial of boat in the lake.
P015. Christian discussing lake legend with treasure hunter Rick Lagina.
P018. Texas man Philip Waldrup’s original discovery of a wagon wheel in the lake in 1957.
P020. Christian at the lake at a young age.
P022. Christian holding one of several musket balls retrieved from the lake.
P025. Canadian researchers retrieve musket balls from “Area X”, a presumed Laffite auction site.
P027. “Area X” expedition team, 2023. The team performed ground scans to corroborate a tip from local law enforcement divers on metal remains of a possible ship with Laffite associations that, at times, may be landlocked. Future magnetometry scans and diving may take place with new show in development. Photo by Christian.
P031. Bio photo of Christian.
P016. Masonic symbols created from “tabby concrete” previously discovered at “Area K” in Southeast Texas potentially connected to Laffite activity in area from 1817 to 1819, dated pre-1830s.
P017. Deploying the side scan sonar rig.
P019. Christian diving at a young age.
P021. Christian holding piece from A009 that sandwiched front of wooden wagons. The piece is now on museum display.
P023. Christian digging at site known as “Area X”, a presumed Laffite auction site.
P024. Christian examines a square nail, pulled from “Area X”, a presumed Laffite auction site.
P026. Airboat exploration of eastern Sabine River en route to “Area X”.
P028. Bio photo of Christian.
P029. Bio photo of Christian.
P030. Bio photo of Christian.
P032. Bio photo of Christian.