The size of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute was "excessive and not in keeping with the Bermuda image'', the DAB said in its decision released yesterday.

The DAB also said the proposed site was unsuitable.

And provisions for traffic expected to be generated by the educational and entertainment complex were "inadequate''.

BUEI trustees said they would appeal the decision which has come as a blow to their plans. Chairman Mr. David Lines said: "We are entitled to this appeal as it is provided for under Bermuda law.'' But the news was welcomed by the Bermuda National Trust, one of the main objectors.

"The decision of the DAB almost word for word reflects the concerns of the Trust and other objectors with respect to the size, scale, massing, traffic flow and foreshore encroachment of this development,'' the Trust said in a statement. "The Trust reiterates its support for the principles of establishing an educational museum facility as conceived by the trustees of the Institute and urges them to pursue alternative sites that may better accommodate their proposed development.'' When asked whether a revised in-principle application would be submitted or an appeal made to Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons, BUEI Board of Trustees chairman Mr. David Lines initially responded: "None of the Trustees will talk to you because we consider The Royal Gazette to be hostile and your Editor in conflict.'' Royal Gazette Mr. David L. White is president of the Trust.

Following a meeting of the trustees last night, Mr. Lines said: "An appeal will be made because the trustees strongly believe that this project will prove to exciting and educational for Bermuda residents and visitors alike.

"It is a belief supported by those many individuals who, by their considerable financial commitment, have demonstrated their support for the Institute on the East Broadway site.

"The trustees of the BUEI have now agreed that they will not make any further public statement regarding the appeal process while it is underway.'' The Trust had filed an objection to the plans along with local developer Mr.

Sanders Frith-Brown and several East Broadway area residents.

Trust Environmental Marine Committee chairman Mr. Stephen Cook, in a separate statement, said he was "gratified'' by the DAB's refusal of the BUEI plans.

"Basically, the site was too small for what they were doing,'' he said. Some 80 percent of the site would be covered in building and hard surface, he noted -- on top of 4,000 square feet of land having to be reclaimed for parts of the development that fell outside of the property.

The Trust remained opposed to the plans despite several revisions.

Developers had originally planned to build on the Trust's historic Pembroke Hall property.

But they eventually moved the BUEI off it, staying on the Butterfield property, owned jointly by Fidelity International and a separate Trust endowment company.

Overall square footage of the BUEI was reduced by 35 percent by the time of the final revision on January 21.

But the DAB refused the in-principle application for an institute, restaurant, parking area and dock, received last September, on the following grounds: The location, size and configuration of the site is unsuitable for the development proposed due to scale of the buildings and the traffic to be generated; The massing and scale of development are excessive and not in keeping with the Bermuda image; and The provisions made for vehicular access, parking and servicing is inadequate given the traffic to be generated by the development.

As a footnote, the DAB said: "The Board wishes to advise the applicant that it is of the opinion that the site is more suited to a development of reduced scale which achieves greater setbacks from the old Crow Lane, greater landscaped buffer areas and a smaller area of foreshore encroachment.'' The DAB is chaired by Mr. Colin Adderley.