Shipwreck Guide

Introduction
This is a basic guide on how to raise shipwrecks and obtain various treasures from them.

Obtaining the Required Skills or Items
You will need will need certain skills or items to complete all the steps. Each skill can be circumvented if you buy the right items, though you many need many for some of them.

Fishing - Fishing is useful to obtain the shipwreck map pieces initially. Look at the Fishing page on the wiki to find out where to learn it and the requirements. You can buy fishing rods or reserve fishing nets instead if you do not wish to learn the skill, though you will probably need to fish hundreds of times as fishing up map pieces is rare. Alternatively, you can also very rarely find map pieces from combat or you can purchase them directly from other players for a couple hundred thousand ducats. (if you purchase the pieces, it is a gamble as you may not get back what you pay...)

Salvage - Salvage is needed to find and raise the shipwreck from the bottom of the sea. Look at the Salvage page on the wiki to find out where to learn it and the requirements. You can buy salvage rope at the craftsman of larger ports if you do not wish to learn the skill, though you will need many as you will be using one each time to find out how close you are to the shipwreck. (If you do get the ropes, I recommend at least 20 of them as you will be using many to find it.)

Haul - Haul is required to tow the shipwreck back to the nearest port so you can search it. Look at the Haul page on the wiki to find out where to learn it and the requirements. You can buy haul rope at the craftsman of larger ports if you do not wish to learn the skill and this is recommended as you will only need one haul rope to haul it to port. (I recommend getting three or so, just in case the hauling gets interrupted somehow.)

(Note: I am unaware whether unlock skill or other high-end adventure skills are needed for the higher-rated wrecks. To be honest, I have only raised one of these and it was only one star so it was pretty easy. Anyone who knows more, please add the proper information and recommendations.)

Procedure
First, you need to obtain a piece of a shipwreck map. I recommend fishing in your spare time, as rarely a fishing catch will be a map piece. You can also find them very rarely from combat with pirates and you can purchase them from players for a price. (You may spend more than you make if you purchase them, it is a gamble.)

Once you have a map piece, click on the small "Use Item" button in the upper-corner (either at sea or when walking around in port) and use the map piece. It will then be added to your shipwreck maps section. To view this section, click on the "Journal" button and then click on the "Shipwrecks" option. Here you can see the number of pieces you have as well as how many you need total to complete the shipwreck map. You can also see the total amount of shipwrecks you have raised next to "Cumulative Hoisted".

Next, repeat the previous steps in the procedure until you have gotten enough pieces registered in the shipwrecks section to have a complete shipwreck map. Before you set out to find the shipwreck, make sure you are fully stocked and fully repaired. Now look at the map and look at your map of the seas (or the maps on the wiki) and sail to the general sea zone which it is located. (If you have trouble finding it, use the maps here and make sure to try and match up unusual land shapes. Remember, if land leaves the map, don't assume what it looks like off the map as it could have any shape off the maps edge.)

When you have arrived in the sea zone in which the shipwreck is located, the game will inform you by saying something like, "The ship you are targeting appears to have sank in these waters." When you get this message (or something like it, I may not be remembering it exactly) start using your salvage skill or salvage ropes. Each time you use the skill it will tell you if you are near the wreck. (I'll be honest, this part I need more experience with as I have never done it solo. When you are doing this with a fleet, each salvage use will tell you which fleet member is the closest to the wreck and that information can tell you which direction to travel in to get closer. I don't know if you get this detail when using it alone. If anyone knows how it works when you are alone, please edit and add the information and recommendations.) When you are very close it will change add a message reflecting this. When you finally hit the right spot with salvage, you will begin raising the shipwreck. You may receive some hull damage during this part, this is normal. (Once again, this part also shows my limited knowledge on this matter. I only tried this with an extra fleetmate and the text said that they were assisting me when I was raising the wreck during this part. I assume that meant it was raised faster and I received less damage for it, but I am unsure. Anyone who knows more please add your info and recommendations.) Just wait and it will complete this part for you.

Once the shipwreck is raised, it will appear as another ship on the water (called shipwreck) which is wrecked and thus has the white flag icon. Now you need to use your haul skill or a hauling rope to begin towing the shipwreck. (If you are in a fleet, this action will prevent you from following your fleetmates and vice versa.) Once you are hauling the shipwreck, just head for the nearest port and dock there. Note that you will travel slower while hauling the shipwreck.

When you dock at the port, you should see a new button while you are docked. (It will be a new button alongside the "Set Sail", "Provisions", "Employ Sailors", "Harbour", and etc.) Before you click that button, prepare yourself for on-foot exploration by purchasing land combat items such as medicine and darts or catapults. Also, make sure you have plenty of space in your cargo hold and in your inventory for the treasure you may find. (If you have any fleetmates who wish to join you, make sure they are sitting at the docks in port before you click the button to enter and they will join you.) Once you are ready for land adventure, click that new button at the docks and you will enter the shipwreck.

When inside the shipwreck, things are pretty straightforward. Search the wreck for any treasure chests you can find and beware of potential ambushes by buccaneers. When you are finished, exit the shipwreck by returning to the point you entered at and you will be returned to port with any treasure you obtained. (I don't know what happens if you die or leave the shipwreck with treasure remaining inside. Please add this info if you know.) Afterwards, the shipwreck will be gone and you will have to start collecting more map pieces if you wish to search another one.