11 a.m. today when Bermuda's first bungee jumper takes the plunge.

The firm which has brought the worldwide bungee craze to Dockyard, Adrenaline Extreme Bermuda, got official permission to operate yesterday after a delay of almost a week.

They hope crowds of visitors and locals will gather to pay $65 to be put into a basket, winched up by a crane, and dropped 140 feet towards the ocean -- attached only by elastic cord.

AEB was set up by Bermudians Mr. Nick Moore and Mr. Stuart Kirkpatrick, both ex-British Army, with American Mr. Jim Townsend, a former member of the US Army free-fall parachute display team the Golden Knights.

Also involved are Mr. Sebastian Henagulph and Ms Claire Jessey, both Bermudians, and Mr. Hennes Hunt from the US.

They had hoped to start last Saturday. But planning officials, who have stopped other bungee operations on safety grounds, warned AEB they needed permission.

"We've got the go-ahead,'' Mr. Moore said yesterday.

"We had the permit on Tuesday and then we had to get a certificate of occupancy.

"They were up there inspecting the site on Wednesday afternoon.

"They made one request, that we anchor the crowd barriers down with something heavy, just for safety. We did that and they said `OK'.

"Stuart and I will be making our first jumps on Friday. I can't wait to do it.

"There have been tourists swarming all over the site saying they're going to come back when we're open.

"But I think we're going to give the honour of the first jump to Jim. He ran a site in the States and he's really the one who's been instrumental in all of this.'' Mr. Moore said jumpers would be asked to read a waiver, similar to those given to customers of scuba centres or cycle liveries.

"If they're happy with that and they would like to jump, they will pay their money.

"They will be weighed twice and then that weight will be written on them so the correct cord can be chosen for them.'' After another weight check, they would be winched up for the jump. Mr. Moore said the equipment was tested yesterday using weights instead of people.

"There are back-ups for everything,'' he said. "Just as you would have in parachuting.

"This is a professional sport. We're not a cowboy operation as there have been in the States.'' The firm hope to be operating every afternoon, Wednesday to Sunday, until 7 p.m.

Their group booking and information number is 293-1417.