TAMPA, FL--(Marketwired - Jun 18, 2013) - Filmmaker and oceanographic explorer Fabien Cousteau will make his first public appearance following the announcement of his 31-day ocean exploration endeavor, Mission 31, at the nationally touring Sea Monsters Revealed exhibition presented by BASE Entertainment, currently located at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Tampa on June 25. Cousteau announced his ambitious plan to live and work aboard the Florida-based Aquarius, the only undersea marine submersible habitat and lab in the world, on the anniversary of his grandfather Jacques-Yves Cousteau's birthday last week.

Cousteau's Mission 31 marks the 50th anniversary of a monumental legacy left by his grandfather credited with creating the first underwater habitats for humans and leading ocean explorers on the first successful attempt to live and work underwater aboard Conshelf Two. Mission 31 will expand the 50-year-old Cousteau legacy by one full day, 30 more feet of saturation and will broadcast every second on multiple channels exposing the world to the adventure, risk and mystique of what lies beneath.

"The Sea Monsters Revealed exhibition is the perfect platform to discuss what we plan to do on Aquarius with Mission 31," says Cousteau. "The exhibit makes it accessible for anyone to experience the mysteries of the ocean without getting wet. It very much aligns with our efforts to expose the public to the importance of ocean exploration and restoration."

During the June 25 presentation at the Sea Monsters Revealed exhibition, Cousteau will give his first behind-the-scenes preview for Mission 31 (www.mission-31.com) that will conduct research on the underwater effects of climate change on corals, sponges and sea life as well as human physiological and psychological experiments. The presentation will include a candid question and answer session with the ocean explorer and an opportunity to experience the Sea Monsters Revealed exhibition, which contains an interactive replica of the Aquarius submersible where patrons can discover first-hand about the "inner-space" station located 63 feet under sea level in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Cousteau's Mission 31 presentation is open and free to the public, but seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Talk of Mission 31 has been trending on Twitter following tweets from Sir Richard Branson and Queen Noor of Jordan. When Cousteau's team submerges on Sept. 30 to start the 31-day mission on Oct. 1, all eyes will have access to the exploration through The Weather Channel, Skype and other major media outlets.

"This is a major event. Sea Monsters Revealed shares the Cousteau family's vision to advance the understanding and appreciation of the oceans," says John Zaller, creator of Sea Monsters Revealed who is known for the creation of other blockbuster exhibitions including: Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Bodies the Exhibition and Bodies Revealed. "Fabien Cousteau's support demonstrates the significance of the exhibition for all those who have ever dreamed of exploring the mysteries of the sea."

BASE Entertainment's Sea Monsters Revealed is the most comprehensive exhibition of the deep sea ever created using a revolutionary polymer preservation technique known as plastination to bring real sea creatures onto dry land for a first-of-its-kind intimate experience (www.seamonstersrevealed.com).

IF YOU GO

What: Fabien Cousteau's Mission 31 at Sea Monsters Revealed

When: Tues., June 25

Lecture: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Book Signing: 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Where: MOSI

(4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa, Fla. 33617)

Cost:

Lecture: FREE

Exhibit: $12.95 (children) $18.95 (adults)