Afri-Can Marine Minerals: Progress on Diamond Sampling Vessel

MONTREAL, QUEBEC, May 19 (MARKET WIRE) --
Afri-Can Marine Minerals Corporation ("Afri-Can") (TSX VENTURE: AFA) has
been informed by International Mining and Dredging Holding Ltd. (IMDH)
that the equipment installation work on the contracted diamond sampling
vessel MV DP The Explorer is near completion. IMDH expects that the work
will be finished in early June 2009. Following completion of equipment
installation, the vessel's Dynamic Positioning system class 2, will be
tested in the vicinity of the Port of Cape Town. It is estimated that the
vessel will sail from Cape Town to the Port of Walvis Bay in Namibia by
the end of June. IMDH will then conduct deep sea testing of the equipment
in the area of Walvis Bay and carry out a test sampling program for about
one month before commencing the sampling program on Afri-Can's Block J.
The sampling equipment, treatment plant as well as the Dynamic
Positioning system (DP II) are brand new equipment and need extensive
testing in order to be calibrated for the most highest efficiency.

The Block J sampling program is expected to be conducted during the third
quarter of 2009, as previously disclosed in our most recent Quarterly
Financial Statements issued on April 29, 2009. The date of commencement
of the sampling program on Block J will be established at the end of the
test sampling period.

The sampling program in Block J will cover four geological Features and
comprises a total of 332 samples. Of these, 237 are sited within
previously delineated targets covering 18.96 square kilometres. The
remaining 95 samples are designed to test geological formations that are
thought to be potentially diamond bearing, but have not yet been proved
as such. Details of the program are contained in the report titled "EPL
2499 (Block J) PHASE 3 SAMPLING, 2009" which can be viewed in the
Investors/Technical Reports section of our web site at: www.afri-can.com.

The aim of the complete surveying and sampling program is to delineate
diamond resources on Afri-Can's Block J marine diamond concession in
Namibia in compliance with National Instrument 43-101.

Private Placement and Issue of Options

Afri-Can announces that it has closed a non-brokered private placement,
originally filed on April 11th 2009, in the amount of CND $ 149,600 for
the sale of 1,360,000 units ('Unit') at a subscription price of $0.11 per
Unit. Each Unit consists of one (1) common share and one-half (1/2)
common share purchase warrant of the Company ("Warrant"). Each full
Warrant entitles the holder thereof, during a period of 24 months from
the date of closing of the placement, to purchase one (1) common share at
an exercise price of $0.15 per common share. Each share issued pursuant
to the placement has a mandatory four (4) month holding period from the
date of closing of the placement.

Afri-Can's Board of Directors has granted 450,000 options to Paradox
Public Relations Inc. The options are exercisable at $ 0.14 for a period
of 12 months commencing on the date of this press release. The options
are vested quarterly over a period of 12 months. The options are
conditional upon approval by Regulatory Authorities.

Afri-Can is a Canadian company, actively involved in the acquisition,
exploration and development of major mineral properties in Namibia.
Afri-Can's creative and scientific approach targets large marine diamond
deposits in unexplored prospective territories.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements," as
identified in the Afri-Can's periodic fillings with Canadian Securities
Regulators that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There can be
no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual
results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated
in such statements.

Shares outstanding: 156,746,394

Contacts:
Afri-Can Marine Minerals Corporation
Pierre Leveille
President & CEO
514-846-2133
514-846-1435 (FAX)

Afri-Can Marine Minerals Corporation
Bernard J. Tourillon
Executive V.P. and CFO
514-846-2133
514-846-1435 (FAX)
info@afri-can.com
www.afri-can.com

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