“In 14 hundred and 92, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…” – we all know the rhyme (it’s the only way I ever get that particular date to lodge in my brain!) but now, more than 500 years later, it’s believed that the very vessel he sailed in has finally been found.

After all these years, experts believe that Christopher Columbus’ ship the Santa Maria, which sank on Christmas Day in 1492, has been discovered at the bottom of the ocean off the northern coast of Haiti.

Explorer Barry Clifford, a marine investigator from Massachusetts, USA, has said he hopes to begin excavation of the shipwreck as early as next week. He said: “I am confident that a full excavation of the wreck will yield the first-ever detailed marine archaeological evidence of Columbus’ discovery of America.”

The ruins of what is hoped to be the wreck, which was found in about three to five metres of water, include a cannon and possible ballast from the ship.

Clifford’s team originally found the wreck in 2003, but had been unable to identify which ship it was until now.

What do you think? Is this likely to be the Santa Maria? Should we be excited about this discovery? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below…