The 12,000 square foot exhibit and retail store will utilise existing assets previously developed and built for Odyssey’s Shipwreck & Treasure Adventure in New Orleans and add a newly developed “Pirates” module. The interactive multi-media exhibit allows children and adults to learn about the history of shipwrecks and pirates, and also experience the research, search, archaeological recovery and conservation involved in the quest for deep sea knowledge and treasures.

John Morris, CEO and co-founder of Odyssey Marine Exploration said, ‘The enthusiastic feedback our exhibit received in New Orleans encouraged us to bring the intriguing world of shipwreck exploration to the public in Florida and, at a later point, to other cities in America. In addition to our core business of shipwreck exploration, we consider interactive, themed attractions such as this one a strategic step toward realising our long term business plan for the company by leveraging future shipwreck discoveries into public exhibits, merchandising opportunities, and other entertainment possibilities including books, films and TV specials."

While the exhibit displays authentic artifacts from many different shipwrecks, the spotlight is on treasures and artifacts of the SS Republic. This Civil War era ship sank during a hurricane off the coast of Georgia in 1865. Odyssey discovered the wreck of the Republic nearly 1,700 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in the summer of 2003, nearly 138 years after the ship went down. More than 51,000 gold and silver coins, and approximately 14,000 additional artifacts, were recovered in the world's most extensive deep ocean archaeological excavation.

In addition to having the opportunity to closely inspect shipwreck artifacts, exhibit visitors will also get to experience the various steps in shipwreck exploration. Guests can use research and technology to locate shipwrecks, pilot a real robot submersible, test their dexterity using a giant manipulator arm to pick up coins one at a time and identify artifacts as they are located on the sea floor.

For further information visit www.shipwreck.net.