Yet in five short years, after his NUMA team discovered the submarine on 3 May 1995, the dream was now becoming a reality. The Hunley should have been raised a half-hour earlier, but strong winds forced the recovery team to bring in a large barge to settle the area. At 0839, the Hunley breaks the surface of the water. It is still silent. As the Hunley is lowered gently to the recovery barge, boat horns toot and blast.
People cheer wildly.
Cannon are fired from shore in celebration. At that moment, it seems the media finally realize who Cussler is. He is surrounded with microphones. Everyone thought it would be much larger. And there were so many misconceptions about what we thought the sub looked like.