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For Release 9 a.m. EST
July 2, 2001

DepthFinders First Annual Treasure Hunt

Port Charlotte, FL - July 2, 2001 - DepthFinders Dive Center announces 
its first annual treasure hunt for charity.  Benefitting Mote Marine 
Laboratories aquatic research, the treasure hunt is open to all 
certified divers and will be held at Sharky's Beach in Venice, Florida 
on Sunday, July 22nd, 2001 at 9:00am.

"Scuba Diving is one of the fastest growing sports in the world," said 
Terry Myers, owner of DepthFinders Dive Center.  "Advances in technology 
have made Scuba Diving available to everyone, including children as 
young as 10 and the disabled.  Divers already know how fun and 
adventurous diving can be, and DepthFinders wants to help teach them how 
important it is to preserve our reefs and local marine ecology.  This 
Treasure Hunt allows DepthFinders, Mote Marine and the City of Venice an 
opportunity to provide a fun and safe diving experience while teaching 
the importance of conservation."

Prizes donated by popular scuba diving equipment manufacturers such as 
Sherwood, Dacor, Action Plus, SSI, and PADI; and by local businesses 
such as Sam's Club, WebGeek, Inc., Wind Quest Sailing Adventures, and 
Personal Printing, with a total value over $5,000, will be given away in 
the contest.  A separate sand castle contest for children will be judged 
after the main diving event and prizes will be awarded to participants.

"The Florida Gulf Coast is one of the busiest and most popular diving 
locations in the world," said Joan Galvin of Mote Marine Laboratories.  
"We have great diving conditions year round and thousands of visitors 
from all over the country and the world.  It's important for divers to 
see the beauty and wonder of our natural environment and even more 
important to educate everyone on how fragile that environment is and the 
importance of preserving it."

The cost for divers to participate is $10.00 during pre-registration and 
$15.00 on the day of the event.  Divers may pick up a copy of the rules 
and pre-register by visiting the DepthFinders Dive Center at 1225 
Tamiami Trail, Suite A-5 in Port Charlotte, Florida.  All participants 
must present a valid 'C' card and sign a waiver.  The event will be held 
at the north end of Sharky's Beach in Venice Florida at Sunday, July 
22nd at 9am.  All divers must be registered by 10:00am and ready to 
enter the water by 11:30am.  Women and Children will be given a 5-minute 
head start.  Participants will be searching for specially marked colored 
shells on the sea floor.  The first shell will allow the diver's name to 
be placed in a hopper.  Each additional 5 shells after that will allow 
the diver's name to again be placed in the hopper.  Once all shells are 
counted, names will be drawn for prizes.  Only one prize per diver and 
all winners must be present to claim their prize.  After the final prize 
has been awarded, the children's sand castles will be judged and prizes 
awarded.  A prize will also be awarded to the diver who collect the most 
trash during their dive.

DepthFinders Dive Center is located in Port Charlotte, Florida.  For 
more information, please visit the DepthFinders web site at 
www.depthfinders.com or call Terry Myers at 941-766-7565.  Mote Marine 
Laboratories is located in Sarasota, Florida.  For more information 
please visit the Mote Marine web site at www.mote.org or call Joan 
Galvin at 941-388-4441.

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DepthFinders Dive Center, 1225 Tamiami Trail Suite A-5, Port Charlotte, 
Florida 33953.  Located just north of the Town Center Mall on US-41, or 
one mile south of Toleda Blade.

Mote Marine Laboratories, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota FL 34236