The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute will be giving away a replica of lost treasure as the grand prize for its "Turn of the Century Raffle'', to be held New Year's Eve.

Astwood Dickinson are donating a Bermuda Collection Emerald Pendant, a scale replica of the famous Tucker Cross found in 1954 by Teddy Tucker and believed to be from the wreck of the San Pedro , lost here in 1594.

The cross was the most valuable jewellery ever to be recovered from a new-world wreck and was mysteriously stolen in 1975.

Other prizes in the raffle, which have all been donated in an effort to raise funds for educational programmes at the institute, include dinner prepared by award-winning chef Serge Bottelli with wines and liqueurs from the cellars of Burrows and Lightbourne and an opportunity for a class from the school of the winner's choice to spend a day at BUEI with one or more international advisors.

The advisors include world-class specialists such as Steve Blasco of Nova Scotia's Bedford Institute, who has descended to the Titanic , Dr. Hiroshi Hotta of Japan, who is researching the `Bermuda Triangle' and Dr. Eugenie Clark -- the "Shark Lady''.

The raffle only has 2,000 tickets and these are available at BUEI every day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 297-7314.

Replica of the Tucker Cross