TAMPA, FL - September 8, 2000 - Undersea exploration enthusiasts now have the opportunity join a real deep-ocean shipwreck search expedition in October with Odyssey Marine Exploration (OTC Bulletin Board: OMEX).
For the first time, Odyssey will allow a limited number of guests to accompany the search team on the "Cambridge Expedition". This is not a guided tour, but an actual working shipwreck search expedition. Only a handful of people will have this opportunity.
Unlike many of Odyssey's shipwreck expeditions, the "Cambridge" search area is very close to a fine port facility. This proximity allows Odyssey to take guests out for a one day experience.
Participants will be allowed full access to the ship, bridge, and control room. They will also be able to sit in on operational meetings as the search team reviews targets for ROV dives. Without even getting wet, guests may witness history in the ROV control cabin as shipwrecks lost for hundreds, or even thousands, of years are seen for the first time.
The expedition is scheduled for October and space is very limited. More details are available at:
shipwreck.net
The upcoming expedition will be carried out aboard the oceanographic research vessel, Minibex.
The Minibex is owned and operated by Comex SA (www.comex.fr), a leader in the international subsea industry for almost 40 years. The Minibex is a state-of-the-art research vessel outfitted with a sophisticated Dynamic Positioning System, "Super Achilles" ROV system with tether management system and KleinT2000 side scan sonar system. More information about the Minibex and its full complement of search equipment is available at http://www.comex.fr/Pages1/Fram7.html.
In addition to Odyssey co-founders John Morris and Greg Stemm, guests will be hosted by one of the world's leading deep sea explorers, Henri Delauze. In the early 1960's, Delauze founded Comex which eventually became the world's largest commercial diving company. A diver and submersible pilot himself, he spent many years engaged in shipwreck exploration in the waters of the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa and around the world. He is the "third deepest man" in the world, as a result of his 31,660 ft. dive in the French Navy's Bathyscaph Archimede in the Kurile trench in 1962.
During the October 2000 Cambridge Expedition, Odyssey plans to inspect remaining targets, map an additional section of the search area, and examine several shipwreck sites previously located by Odyssey. The company anticipates receiving permission to recover some artifacts under the supervision of an archaeologist from at least one of the sites in order to determine its identity.
The target of this expedition is the "Cambridge", the code-name for a large British war ship that sank in deep water over 300 years ago during a severe storm. Based on research conducted by Odyssey, the company's management believes the "Cambridge" was carrying a large cargo of coins with a potential numismatic value between $200 and $500 million or more, depending on the denomination and condition of the coins. Assuming the wreck is located, Odyssey intends to carry out an extensive archaeological excavation of this site in cooperation with the British Royal Naval Museum.
Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. specializes in worldwide shipwreck exploration and archaeological recovery. Led by deep-water shipwreck pioneers John Morris and Greg Stemm, the company combines extensive experience and international political contacts with cutting-edge deep ocean technology and sound archaeological practices. The company has several shipwreck projects in various stages of development around the world.
More information about Odyssey and these shipwreck projects is available at shipwreck.net