More than $30,000 in scholarships has been made available to Bermudian students in a recently announced initiative.

The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI), in collaboration with the Sea Education Association Inc. (SEA), said four scholarships worth $8,000 each will be offered to students attending, or accepted to, college or university.

Senior School and Bermuda College students who meet the criteria -- which are presently being drawn up and will be announced soon -- will be eligible to apply. Successful applicants will complete a SEA Semester undergraduate internship which is an accredited course earning 17 full college credits from Boston University.

SEA president and BUEI international advisor Rafe Parker said he was delighted at the opportunity to further build on support for BUEI Educational Outreach Programmes and looked forward to counting Bermudian students among the alumni.

And BUEI deputy chairman Brian Hall added that such an experience, which blended interdisciplinary academic programmes ashore and at sea, was a unique opportunity for Bermudians to gain a new appreciation for the marine environment and for individual abilities.

The new offering was an example of the potential of BUEI to meet its mission to share the ever expanding knowledge of the oceans so that the people of Bermuda and the world may explore the sea with understanding, excitement and respect, noted Mr. Hall.