What does it all mean? That's what a team of scientists aboard HMCS Cormorant are asking themselves now that a month of research in Bermuda waters is coming to a close.

As the Canadian Navy's 245-foot diving support ship tomorrow sets sail back to her home port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, she leaves in her wake a greater understanding of Bermuda's geological past; yet the research may have created more mystery surrounding what Mother Nature can and will do next.

Using the Navy's deepsea submersible SDL-1, Bermudian and Canadian researchers will today complete nearly four weeks of dives -- some to depths beyond 1,500 feet -- to the real seat of Bermuda's power, the seamount.

Not since the 1930's -- when Dr. William Beebe dropped his bathysphere off the South Shore -- has science carried out a such a systematic exploration of the ocean floor and the Island's volcanic rise.

And the depths have indeed surrendered a few scientific treasures, Wolfgang Sterrer of the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo told The Royal Gazette .

"We've had one of the first looks at what the seamount really looks like'' Dr. Sterrer said. In addition to sampling a relatively unknown species of sea cucumber and observing for the first time red-algae "cannonballs'', geologists from the Geological Survey of Canada and Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, discovered evidence of the Island's ancient coastline now lying under 350 feet of ocean.

"Bermuda's geologic history is not clearly understood and there are a number of things that just didn't quite fit,'' said the GSC's Steve Blasco -- Chief Scientist for the expedition and an International Science Advisor for the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, one of the co-sponsors of the project.

For years geologists have considered Bermuda to be the Atlantic Ocean's "dipstick,'' the only scientifically-safe place to measure the rise and fall of sea level over millenia. But that thinking may now have to be revised, he said.

"It turns out that Bermuda may be moving tectonically, in other words the seamount may actually be breathing -- moving up and down over the last 30 million-odd years -- but how much we don't know.'' Evidence of this tectonic movement -- nearly imperceptible within a human lifespan -- was made apparent by two minor earthquakes that rattled parts of the Island last year, he added.

Mr. Blasco further estimates the Bermuda Rise formed about 50 million years ago, with the last pulses of vulcanism occuring about 20 million years later: "So we think Bermuda may be younger than previously thought.'' Meanwhile the discovery of terracing and erosion 350 feet beneath the waves provides evidence that during the last Ice Age 17,000 to 25,000 years ago -- the period of maximum ice advance -- Bermuda was a much larger place, extending from the Argus and Challenger banks to North Rock.

Even more fascinating was the discovery of a peat underlay in Ferry Reach -- evidence that at one time the Island may have cradled a fresh water lake as well.

Diving aboard SDL-1 to about 1,400 feet, Dr. Noel James from Queen's University was able to observe volcanic basalt outflows upon which Bermuda's calcium-rich limestone rests. Scientists also recovered samples of Bermuda Cedar, estimated to be about 7-8,000 years old.

Beyond the science meanwhile, was the human element of exploring the Bermuda's other world, the rarely seen seamount.

"For 35 years I've been taking adventure holidays all over the world and that three-and-a-half hours (aboard the SDL-1) was one of the most enjoyable; the whole thing was an adventure,'' Premier David Saul, who late last week descended to 1,450 feet off Gurnet Rock, told The Royal Gazette . "I still find it quite incredible that we'd gone to almost 1,500 feet.'' Bristling with underwater cameras, lights, and remote manipulator arms, SDL-1 can comfortably carry a crew of five to 2,000 feet -- though she has gone deeper, Cormorant's crew confide. Three observers and two Navy pilots meanwhile are afforded spectacular views through a front-mounted plexi-glass bubble.

"The whole ride was very comfortable, more so than I had imagined. Outside the window they had three levels of illumination,'' said the Premier. "It was like watching a very high-definition television set.'' "The excitement is palpable,'' added Dr. James. "Its' the closest I'll ever get to a space shot.'' Meanwhile the crew aboard the Cormorant and SDL-1's pilots drew rave reviews.

"The pilots here are first rate; among the best I've ever worked with,'' said Dr. James.

Adds diving veteran Dr. Sterrer: "The guys were so professional on the one hand and so accommodating on the other.

"I've always been a little leery of the military, but this Canadian Navy is the peacetime military at its best.'' As crews and scientists head home, work now begins in bringing the science to the people, said BUEI's Development Director Wendy Tucker.

In addition to GSC, Queen's and the Royal Ontario Museum, BUEI pulled together local resources from the Bermuda Biological Station for Research, BAMZ, and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Much of the video and still photos shot from SDL-1 and some of the specimens collected will be on view once the Institute opens its doors in July, said Ms Tucker.

"We're hoping it will give those people who live here a different vision of Bermuda,'' she said. "It really piques your curiosity to see that this really is part of our Island.'' Photos by Neil Ward Dr. Noel James THE COWBOY -- Riding shotgun atop SDL-1, Kingston, Ontario, leading seaman Jason Berry ensures the submersible is safely hitched, towed and raised aboard HMCS Cormorant .

PREMIER VIEW -- Premier David Saul watches as the SDL-1 is lifted to the water.

FIRST LIGHT -- The Canadian Navy's HMCS Cormorant sits off Hungry Bay at daybreak, waiting to take a new load of observers.

MUSEUM MUS DIVE SEA