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Kingston's shipwrecks and the divers who search for them, will be the focus of a year-long exhibit opening  at the

"This; exhibit is intended to honor Barbara Carson. She has discovered many of these wrecks," said museum curator Maurice Smith. "Not only is she the discoverer of many of these wrecks, but the co-founder of this museum."

Carson's exploits are renowned among Kingston area scuba divers. Beginning in the 1950s, she researched and helped locate dozens of area wrecks that have become the backbone of a thriving diving industry Marine Museum exhibits already feature many of the artifacts Carson and her associates have brought up from the wrecks.

Smith said Carson's museum cofounder; the late Audrey Rushbrook, will also be remembered. Tribute will be paid to Preserve Our Wrecks Kingston (POW), the association of divers and dive charter operators that helps ensure that the integrity of the wrecks is maintained. And the photos and data collected on area wrecks by marine archeologist Jonathan Moore has been stored on an in-house web site for public use.

Some of the highlights will include an hour-glass, a ship's compass, pottery and other items retrieved from various wrecks.

"The museum was established mainly because the divers were going down and bringing stuff up and asking, 'Where are we going to put it?'" said Smith. "There's been a very positive outcome."