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U.K.-BASED PROJECT SCYLLA NEARS COMPLETION

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. - Preparations for the Scylla Artificial Reef are nearly complete, today announced Canadian Artificial Reef Consulting president Jay Straith. Canadian Artificial Reef Consulting is providing specialist expertise to the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, England for the Scylla project.

"The National Marine Aquarium has announced March 27th will be sinking day and we look forward to a successful placement," said Straith. "The ship is in the final stages of preparation and is on schedule for its new mission."

Commissioned in 1970, HMS Scylla was the last frigate to be built in Plymouth. After 30 years service in the Royal Navy, Scylla was purchased by the National Marine Aquarium and returned to her homeport of Plymouth to begin her new duty as an artificial diving reef - the first of its kind in the UK.

"Scylla will provide a unique ecosystem for leisure divers and offer research potential for science and industry," said Mr. Michael Leece, Chief Executive of the National Marine Aquarium. "This is a fantastic opportunity to watch a fascinating new habitat on the sea bed off Plymouth develop and provide homes to a wealth of under sea wildlife."

The National Marine Aquarium was the first aquarium in the United Kingdom to be set up solely for the purpose of education, conservation and research. It remains Britain's foremost aquarium and in the four years it has been open it has attracted over one and half million visitors through its doors.

Reefing a ship, the process of recycling an existing vessel and then placing it in coastal waters is an exacting process. Canada first developed standards for the cleaning and placement of such vessels 15 yeas ago in response to grassroots scuba divers in British Columbia. Those standards have since been adopted in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Canadian Artificial Reef Consulting, headquartered in North Vancouver, British Columbia, is a world leader in the procurement, preparation and placement of artificial reefs. Information about Canadian Artificial Reef Consulting, its projects and its principals is available on line at www.artificialreefs.net.

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