Afri-Can Starts Sampling Program on EPL 3403 Marine Diamond Concession

Afri-Can Marine Minerals Corporation's ("Afri-Can") (TSX VENTURE:AFA) announces
that its sampling program on Exclusive Prospecting Licence ("EPL") 3403 marine
diamond concession in Namibia began on December 2nd, 2012. The program will last
for at least 14 days and a minimum of 250 samples of 5 square metres each will
be extracted. 


The complete sampling plans a total of 553 samples to be extracted in two
distinct programs. The report is available on our web site at: www.afri-can.com.



The priorities of the first program plans a minimum of 250 samples are to begin
delineation of the diamond potential and inferred resources in targeted areas of
the diamondiferous features already identified in the southern portion of EPL
3403. The program will also include some exploratory samples in new target areas
delineated by the recent geophysical survey.


Sampling priorities target the following areas (see map attached):



--  Area 1: a minimum of 75 samples is planned starting at the Crater going
    eastwards in to the Basin region. Area 1 covers approximately 2.81
    square kilometres and is largely covered by the "Crater" region.
    Previous sampling programs recovered 26 diamonds with an average size of
    0.56 carat per stone. Several diamonds have been extracted in a tight
    grid showing potential concentration, and Area 1 represents good
    potential for the development of a mineral resource. 
    
--  Area 2: a minimum of 100 samples is planned for Area 2, which covers
    approximately 6.91 square kilometres. It contains five newly-outlined
    sampling regions, including part of a channel approximately 8 kilometres
    in length and forming a deeper depression in the central portion of Area
    2. Previous sampling programs recovered 29 diamonds with an average size
    of 0.49 carat per stone. Several diamonds have been extracted in a tight
    grid showing potential concentration. The five sampling regions covering
    Area 2 represent good potential for the development of a mineral
    resource. 
    
--  Target 1: a minimum of 75 samples is planned for the region named
    "Ridges" which covers approximately 18 square kilometres along the
    eastern boundary of the concession. The region shows a series of bedrock
    ridges that are typical of diamond enrichment zones in the vicinity of
    EPL 3403 and elsewhere along the Namibian coast. This region represents
    strong potential for successful exploratory sampling. 



The mv DP The Explorer has been chartered for the program. It is an efficient,
dedicated sampling vessel, which can sample down to a depth of 250 metres of
water and extract up to 21 samples per day. The sample size is 5 square metres,
and the sampling tool can work through up to 8 metres below the seabed in its
configuration set for EPL 3403.


Bob De Decker (M.Sc., Pr.Sci. Nat.) is the author of the geophysical survey
analysis report and is responsible for the technical part of this press release.
He is the designated Qualified Person under the terms of National Instrument
43-101.  


EPL 3403 covers approximately 800 square kilometres and is adjacent to the north
of the Atlantic One Mining Lease ("ML") 47 owned by Namdeb Diamond Corporation
(Pty) Limited, a 50:50 partnership between the Government of the Republic of
Namibia and De Beers Centenary AG. ML 47 is the largest marine diamond deposit
in the world and is currently producing in excess of 1,100,000 carats per year.


About Afri-Can Marine Minerals Corporation 

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
prospective territories. 


This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements," as identified
in the Afri-Can's periodic filings 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.


A map is available at the following address:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/AFA_EPL3403.pdf. 


Shares outstanding: 83,277,864

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Pierre Leveille, President & CEO;
Bernard J. Tourillon, Executive V.P. and CFO
[phone]
TOLL FREE North America: 1 [phone]
[phone] (FAX)
[e-mail]
www.afri-can.com