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Canadian dive team prepares to search Franklin shipwrecks

The ship's helm (wheel) astern of the skylight for the Captain's Cabin of the HMS Terror is shown in a handout photo.
The ship's helm (wheel) astern of the skylight for the Captain's Cabin of the HMS Terror is shown in a handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Parks Canada-Thierry Boyer

A team of underwater researchers is beginning its work on two Canadian heritage sites, where historically significant shipwrecks are located.

Sir John Franklin and all of his 129 men died in the arctic in an expedition to find the Northwest Passageway.

READ MORE: ‘Looking at a time capsule’: Underwater video shows HMS Terror shipwreck

Both ships sank and are now sitting on the bottom of the Arctic ocean.

Canadian researchers began looking for the two ships in 2008.

READ MORE: Hundreds of shipwrecks pose environmental threat to Canada’s coasts

They found HMS Erebus in 2014 and HMS Terror in September 2016.

Underwater archaeologist Marc-André Bernier speaks to students at Laval University, Monday, November 7, 2016. Jean-Vincent Verville/Global News

“The story of John Franklin and the 1845 expedition is something that has captivated the minds of Canadians and British for many reasons,” said underwater archaeologist and research team manager Marc-André Bernier.

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Bernier gave a lecture Monday morning at Laval University.

READ MORE: Second-oldest Great Lakes shipwreck found in Lake Ontario

“[The HMS Terror] is in incredible condition, better than HMS Erebus and for us looking forward, it’s going to be quite exciting because we’re going to re-write the whole Franklin history with this discovery,” he said.

Once the dives begin in the new year, the team hopes to discover what really happened to Franklin and his men.

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