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We live surrounded by the sea. We have some of the most colourful reefs in the world. Diving is a popular recreation for locals and visitors. The Ministry of Tourism and a great many private people are doing their best to attract visitors to take part in Bermuda's spectacular diving. For a long time diving was almost neglected as a part of Bermuda's visitor attractions. Scuba diving is a mainstay of the visitor economy in some of the islands to our south, notably Bonair, Cayman and Aruba. It can be that in Bermuda. Now that the fish are coming back, to the eternal credit of Ann Cartwright DeCouto, diving can again be fabulous in Bermuda and the private sector is responding well by providing good facilities. With diving, as with any other form of complex recreation, there are dangers and there will be unfortunate incidents and Bermuda must do its best to cope with those incidents. Thus we were disturbed to read on the front page of yesterday's edition of this newspaper that cash is standing in the way of Bermuda installing a new decompression chamber at the King Edward Hospital. If the medical personnel involved in this decision think that Bermuda needs a new decompression chamber then we should have one.

The old chamber has been used eight times this year and not always for scuba diving accidents which indicates to us that good facilities are necessary. It appears that the new chamber has been paid for in the amount of some $240,000 but the state-of-the-art equipment is very expensive to install. Now talks are going on with fundraisers to discuss ways to get the equipment in place.

Private fundraising is one thing and a great many companies both local and international are very generous as are a number of private individuals but we do not see why they should be asked to pay every time. We recognise that a great deal of very expensive physical work has been going on at the hospital recently to improve patient care but it should go on because the King Edward is Bermuda's only medical hospital. Bermuda is a successful country and both Bermudians and visitors deserve the best. We believe that when the medical fraternity decides, within reason, that Bermuda needs a special facility then we should have that facility. In this particular case we feel that a Country which is doing its best to attract visiting scuba divers should have the best in decompression chambers to cope with the bends. We think this is an occasion where the Minister of Finance could dig down and provide the money to install this equipment. If we are to encourage scuba diving then we have to take care of safety.