What's Really Hidden Beneath The Jamaican Sea?

Is Port Royal really underwater? Yes. About two thirds of Jamaica's "wickedest city" sank in 1692, and now the sea south of the island is being searched for oil. Here is what is proven and what is only claimed. Somewhere on the floor of Kingston Harbour, a kitchen still holds its iron pots in the hearth. This video follows the sunken pirate city of Port Royal from the earthquake of June 7, 1692, through the divers who found a watch stopped at 11:43, to its UNESCO World Heritage listing in 2025. Then it turns to the Walton-Morant oil licence south of Jamaica, where United Oil & Gas claims seven billion barrels that no well has tested. QUICK ANSWERS Where is the sunken city of Port Royal? Under the waters of Kingston Harbour, at the end of the Palisadoes in Jamaica. When did Port Royal sink? On June 7, 1692. A pocket watch recovered in 1959 was reportedly found stopped at 11:43, which fits survivor accounts of the time. How many people died? About 2,000 within minutes, and by most accounts another 2,000 to 3,000 in the following weeks from injuries and disease. Is Port Royal a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Yes. It was inscribed on July 12, 2025. Does Jamaica have oil? No commercial oil has been found. United Oil & Gas holds 100% of the 22,400 square kilometre Walton-Morant licence and estimates about 7 billion barrels of unrisked prospective resources. That is an estimate, not a discovery or a reserve. Has a well been drilled there? Not on the prospects now being marketed. A well is estimated to cost more than US$30 million, and as of reporting dated October 7, 2026, no partner deal had been announced. Why does Pedro Bank matter? It is a roughly 8,000 square kilometre submerged plateau, Jamaica's main fishing ground and the main source of its queen conch exports. Both of Jamaica's offshore oil wells were drilled there, in 1970 and 1982. CHAPTERS 0:00 The kitchen under Kingston Harbour 1:25 How a town built on sand got rich 2:33 June 7, 1692: the morning Port Royal sank 4:08 Lewis Galdy and what was left of the town 5:30 The watch stopped at 11:43 6:37 What archaeologists found in the sunken city 7:28 Port Royal becomes a World Heritage Site 8:48 Does Jamaica have oil? 9:57 The evidence and the 7 billion barrel claim 11:07 The money problem and the October deadline 12:28 Pedro Bank and what is at risk 14:51 Guyana, Trinidad and what comes next 15:47 Your question: should Jamaica drill? YOUR TURN If a partner signs and the approvals are granted, should Jamaica drill near Pedro Bank? Tell us in the comments, and tell us which city you are watching from. SUBSCRIBE Jamaica Dispatch is working toward 10,000 subscribers. Subscribe to catch the update if the oil partner news changes. DISCLAIMER This video is for information and education only. Historical accounts of 1692 differ on details such as casualty figures, so the video says where sources disagree. Figures about oil are company estimates and are not proven reserves. Nothing here is investment, financial or legal advice. Facts reflect sources available as of October 14, 2026 and may change. Illustrative visuals may not depict the exact events described. #PortRoyal #Jamaica #JamaicaHistory #JamaicaOil #SunkenCity