Thanks for the invite, Aquanut. I REALLY would like to be there, but I have some major projects in NC and the Caribbean that are keeping my spare time tied up. Hopefully I can live your adventures through my ARRG buddies that get involved.
Now for the hard advice. It's not popular, but great leadership does the hard things. I encourage you to set a probationary period for membership. Everyone gets a shot, but after a year, the key leaders choose who the permanent members will be. Inevitably you'll attract loose lips, half-cocked dreamers, and incompetent guys and gals who will derail the project for everyone if not weeded out in due time.
So who should the key leaders be? I recommend this checklist:
1. Humble, not arrogant or overly insecure - the loudest and most opinionated CAN"T be allowed to lead (weed him out)
2. Has the group's best interest in mind, team player - not a gloryhound out for himself
3. Has money to contribute or can effectively raise funds
4. Can hate gov't some

, but is willing to work legally with gov't and archaeologists
5. Wants history to be preserved with archaeological integrity, not to simply rip through a site looking for precious goods.
6. Competent in either of these areas: research, boat mechanics, surveying with SSS and mag, or recovery techniques
7. Is very tight-lipped beyond the leadership - the crew and divers don't need to know everything
8. Spends wisely. Has a long term appraoch to the group's efforts - no goals of get-rich-quick
9. Both character AND competence - you can trust a person's intent, but you must trust their abilities, too.
Here's an example of a great group:
Key Leaders
President - has funds or raises funds for projects, decides best projects to pursue. Is a "benevolent dictator."
Director of Operations - coordinates all those involved with survey and recovery
Captain(s) (not necessarily licensed for smaller vessels) - has vessel(s) and access to mechanics, blowers
Survey tech(s) - in charge of sidescan and magnetometer surveys
Researcher(s): Bookworm who loves history more than greed
Others in the group beyond key leaders: divers, mechanics and crew
Some of these roles may overlap or you may want to add to it, but this is a template group idea for you to work with. If you'll do this, you'll practice what great leaders practice and have yourself an awesome group who trusts each other implicitly.
I'm cheering for your new venture!
Darren