diving skills to the world recently in a hi-tech link-up between Bermuda and the west coast of the US.

Diving was cancelled on the previous occasions due to bad weather, but now international scientists and their young assistants -- argonauts -- have had the chance to use their video cameras and satellite link-ups to globally transmit scientific data to scientific and education centres.

This year's project focuses on the underwater environments of both Monterey Bay, California, and Bermuda's coral reefs.

Bad weather first kept our local argonauts at home base and then later they were unable to send an underwater broadcast due to poor water visibility.

The first-week argonauts suffered similar weather problems but they finally managed to get a full day of diving in.

Now in its ninth year, the Jason Project was founded by Robert Ballard after he discovered the Titanic .

Each year the project sponsors an expedition in which students from around the world use communications technology to take part in live link-up programmes.

On board the RV Henry M. Stommel , a 41-foot boat specially outfitted for the Jason Project, the kids were surprisingly relaxed during the trip to the dive site -- Gurnett Rock, just beyond the mouth of Castle Harbour.

A few of them joked and talked while others took pictures with a digital camera. Later they will download the best photos to the Internet.

Eli Lipschultz, 15-years-old, passed the time with a John Grisham novel.

"This is the second time out for them,'' explained marine researcher Robbie Smith. "They're ready.'' Although accustomed to working with graduate students, Dr. Smith said he welcomed the opportunity to work with a much younger age group.

"My main job is to make the science understandable and interesting,'' he said.

Dr. Smith explained that the Bermudian team of researchers and broadcast crew planned to work with the students and use underwater camera equipment to survey coral reefs.

"We can then compare pictures and monitor the reefs to see how healthy they are and to see any changes over time,'' he explained.

In Bermuda's first year as a Jason Project site, Dr. Smith was especially excited by the communication technology available to the scientists.

Satellite link-ups allow scientists separated by thousands of miles to have a real-time video conversation -- while underwater.

To accomplish this feat, Dr. Smith wears a large glass helmet which looks surprisingly like an upside down fish bowl. Despite the sophisticated technology of the dive equipment, the kids affectionately call him "Dr.

Bubblehead''.

The underwater interviews are then broadcast around the world and children are given the opportunity to ask questions about marine life.

Each day the team aims to broadcast five shows, but the "aquanauts'' continue their work even when not on the camera.

All qualified divers, the students swim in pairs and take turns to systematically film the reef surface with a video camera. They stay in contact with the boat with hand signals and each dive lasts about 25 minutes.

The first dive honours went to 12-year-old Paul Frere from Mount St. Agnes Academy and 15-year-old Saltus Grammar School student, Michelle Outerbridge.

As the pair prepared themselves, the relaxed and patient atmosphere was broken as all the aquanauts worked together.

"How much weight do I need? Is this a three or four pound weight?'' asks Michelle.

"You should know that by now!'' answers fellow Saltus student Kalilah.

"Oh yeah? Who's the one who lost two of her weight belts?'' Michelle shoots back.

"One belt! It was one belt!'' counters Kalilah sullenly.

Paul has difficulty getting his wet suit on until international argonaut Geoffrey Steynor forcefully tugs and wrenches it on. Paul's discomfort during the procedure is obvious, but so is his gratitude.

Later, he will have to go through the same process in reverse.

As the kids wait for the show's air-time -- they must coordinate with California, four hours behind -- they share their feelings about the project.

"This is a chance to learn about different water species,'' says Paul.

"It's also a chance for me to advance my diving skills and meet other kids who dive,'' he adds.

For Michelle, it was a love and passion for the ocean which drew her to the expedition.

"We know so little about underwater life, but we spend money on space exploration,'' she points out.

"This lets me work with world-class scientists. It's prestigious to be in the Jason Project.

"I love diving and this is a chance for me to have fun,'' she adds.

Eli's approach is more rational: "My Dad is a scientist at the Biological Station and this gives me a chance to see what he does,'' he says.

"It also gives me a chance to see what kinds of jobs are available.'' Geoffrey stayed in Monterey Bay, California for about ten days in March with two dozen other argonauts. While there he studied kelp forests and speaks with awe of Monterey's laboratories, satellite link-ups, and computers.

"They control everything,'' he says.

Geoffrey will not be going back to the centre but said he planned to help at the Biological Station whenever possible.

Dr. Smith and a camera-man enter the water first, followed soon after by Michelle and Paul.

Eli disappears again with Mr. Grisham, but Kalilah has to make sure Dr.

Bubblehead's air, video, and audio line play out smoothly.

"If I stop feeding the line, he'll die!'' she laughs.

As Michelle and Paul sink beneath the waves, Kalilah explains their roles.

"They'll swim along in a line over the reef and pass the camera between them,'' she says.

"Later we'll analyse the film and find out what species of coral there is the most of.'' As the students and scientists work above and below the waves, images are transmitted via NASA to the Jason Project's headquarters in Monterey Bay.

Children at the Biological Station and from around the world watched the live broadcast of Dr. Smith and his young assistants at work.

But for the young divers, the day's work does not end with the broadcast. Each day the students are given separate topics to study or research.

After a day on the water they must return to their temporary lodgings at the Biological Station to post the day's findings and their personal reflections on Internet journals.

These journals can be accessed from anywhere in the world and the Jason Project leaders encourage children to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from the experiences of their peers.

A first-week argonaut, Ruth O'Kelly-Lynch of Bermuda High School for Girls, gave her feelings after the project.

"These last few days have been the best,'' she wrote.

"I have learned so much about so many things that it is impossible to write everything down in these daily journals.

"It's been an amazing week and I'm so glad that I've had the chance to be a part of it.'' And Dr. Bubblehead would agree.

BACK FROM THE DEEP -- Saltus Grammar School student Michelle Outerbridge, 15-years-old, returns after a successful underwater broadcast and reef survey.

DR. BUBBLEHEAD, I PRESUME? -- Marine researcher Robbie Smith returns from the first underwater broadcast.

A TIGHT FIT -- Bermuda's international representative at the California end of the project, Geoffrey Steynor, helps 12-year-old Paul Frere into his wet-suit.