overlooking Hamilton Harbour, the BUEI impresses before you enter its foyer.

Once inside you are faced with the first exhibits, mobiles based on the sea, ocean exploration and underwater Bermuda, before proceeding to the first part of real exhibition space.

Unfortunately, the early diving and effects of pressure go down like, well, a concrete overcoat. A model of the famous Bathysphere sits proudly in the corner but there is little on hand to explain its significance. And an early diving suit doesn't entice any lingering.

A poor start but things improve in the dive and divers section.

Focusing on Bermuda's famous shores and coral reefs, it provides the first interesting insight to the Island and clever, interactive "video telephones'' enable you to listen to famous divers, who share their experiences of underwater Bermuda.

A promised reef ride -- a video of yourself during a simulated dive -- is missing, but there is compensation in the fantastic shell collection.

The Lightbourn Shell Room is described as one of the world's finest private shell collections and it certainly lives up to its description. Some of the exhibits are amazing and probably unique in the world.

Most of the displays in the main floor level are visual, with detailed educational information on the state of the oceans, pollution and science.

But there is something for the kids. A test your scuba skills machine, complete with dive Barbie and Ken, was a hit with the young -- as was a pollution tank in which kids could plunge their arms.

The long-awaited "dive'' takes place after a briefing on video by author Peter Benchley. A BUEI guide also provides an excellent insight to the waters of Bermuda and what could be expected on the dive into the deep.

The dive, which is more of an elevator ride in a small cinema with bumps added for good measure, is a bit of letdown after all the hype. A screen shows films, which are of excellent quality, of different levels of the ocean and the creatures they contain.

Exiting the dive at the bottom of the ocean, the sea floor is completely dark and there is a sense of the unknown in the huge hall.

Huge video screens show the creatures of the deep and brilliant sounds bring to life whales and other sea animals. A mid-water monsters display cleverly exposes all sorts of weird and wonderful animals via an interesting light system.

Onto the shipwreck gallery, and here the BUEI really excels, making best use of some of the fascinating history surrounding the Island's famous wrecks.

Apart from artefacts from wrecks, there are photos of sunken ships, a scale model of a wreck discovered off the coast, and a fascinating cross section of a typical wreck.

Also on show is the famed Constellation , the ship used in Peter Benchley's novel The Deep.

An excellent show and to any visitor, enough encouragement to take to the waters and see for themselves the rich heritage lying in the waters.

Gift shops sell Bermudian goodies as well as the usual museum gift shop fare.

On leaving the exhibition thirsty or hungry, there is only La Coquille restaurant available: not the best option for parents with young children who are screaming for soda or ice cream.

A coffee shop is needed -- a need that is being addressed, and along with other improvements in the pipeline the BUEI seems to have a bright future.

LESSONS LEARNED -- Chairman Brendan Hollis at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. "It is a big project and there is a lot to learn.'' Graphic file name: BUEHOLL