For Information: http://www.greatlakesdivision.org/

NSCC Great Lakes Division and the Noble Odyssey Foundation will sponsor the following opportunity:

During the summer of 2006 the U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Great Lakes Division in Michigan will offer its “Thunder Bay Odyssey” program to qualified male and female Sea Cadets nationwide.  The TBO is a comprehensive 5-day seagoing experience.  It provides hands-on training in seamanship as well as SCUBA diving courses with a wide range of advanced and specialty certifications .  Much of the training is conducted on board our 80-ft. former Navy vessel and smaller craft.  The Odyssey staff includes master divers with up to 30 years of experience in training Sea Cadets at sea.

The program is based at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, a 448 square-mile area of mighty Lake Huron near Alpena, Michigan (http://thunderbay.noaa.gov/)   Under the Sanctuary’s clear waters are numerous shipwrecks spanning two centuries of maritime history.  Cadet trainees will explore some of these, and may be involved in supporting scientists in underwater and coastal research projects.  Non-diving Cadets will also play an active role.

If any cadets in your division have a potential interest in participating in one of the June-August 2006 sessions, we would appreciate knowing how many and in what month(s) they might attend.  This inquiry is just for early planning purposes.  Further information will be provided later.

Meanwhile, we invite you to visit our websites, www.prideofmichigan.org and www.nobleodyssey.org, to learn more about our training and research programs.  Many thanks for helping us to plan ahead and offer your Cadets this experience of a lifetime.

Yours truly,

LCDR Luke Clyburn, NSCC Great Lakes Division
President, Noble Odyssey Foundation
nobleodyssey@comcast.net